chronometer

A device for measuring time, particularly a precision mechanism for measuring time of day.

Noun

  1. A device for measuring time, particularly a precision mechanism for measuring time of day.
    • A wristwatch costs $20; a chronometer costs $20,000.
    • The balances of all moveable time-keepers, the chronometer excepted, are prevented from vibrating beyond the proper arc by what is called bankings. The inferior escapements are very easily banked; a pin fixed in the...
    • The stock-in-trade of this old gentleman comprised chronometers, barometers, telescopes, compasses, charts, maps, sextants, quadrants, and specimens of every kind of instrument used in the working of a ship's course, or...

Origin

From chrono- + -meter, possibly after the model of earlier French chronomètre (“metronome”), ultimately from Ancient Greek χρόνος (khrónos, “time”) + μέτρον (métron, “meter, measuring device”).

Forms

chronometers chronometre

Synonyms

timepiece time standard

Hyponyms

clock timepiece watch pocket watch stopwatch chronograph chronoscope clepsydra horologium horologe

Related

chronometry horologer horologist horology

Derived

biochronometer cosmochronometer geochronometer marine chronometer microchronometer micronometer pantochronometer