Definition

A device that measures how much a material expands or contracts when it is heated or cooled.

Example

The scientist used a dilatometer to study the thermal expansion of the metal sample.

Conversation

Have you ever used a dilatometer for your experiments?

No, I haven't, but I've heard they’re really useful for measuring thermal expansion.

Yeah, I think it's cool how it can measure changes in solids and liquids.

Definitely! I should look into getting one for my lab.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dilatometer → It is formed from "dilatare" (meaning to expand) and "-meter" (meaning measure). A dilatometer is an instrument used to measure the expansion of materials, particularly in response to temperature changes.

Memory Tip

Think of 'expanding' ('dilatare') and 'measuring' ('-meter') — a dilatometer measures how much something expands.

Visually Confused Words