meldometern.
/mɛlˈdɒmᵻtə/, U.S. /mɛlˈdɑmədər/ Now historical.
An instrument for determining the melting point of minerals.
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the world > the earth > earth sciences > geology > mineralogy > [noun] > apparatus
mineral dresser1876
Jolly1882
meldometer1885
streak plate1895
1885 J. Joly in Nature 5 Nov. 15/2 The Meldometer. The apparatus which I propose to call by the above name (μελδω, to melt) consists of an adjunct to the mineralogical microscope, whereby the melting points of minerals may be compared or approximately determined.
1897 Science 3 Sept. 338/1 Even the ‘meldometer’, which has received Ramsay's encouragement..[has] not yet entered the arena to stay.
1910 Proc. Royal Soc. 1909–10 A. 83 207 The method adopted was in principle that of Joly's Meldometer.
1933 Times Educ. Suppl. 16 Dec. 418/3 Another invention was the meldometer for determining..the point of fusion of minerals.
1949 Dict. National Biogr. 1931–40 494/2 From 1884 he maintained a constant flow of inventions and researches among which may be recorded the meldometer which determined the melting-points of minerals and other substances, [etc.].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1885