an instrument that measures absorption of light, esp by a solution
2. chemistry
(formerly) an instrument that measures the solubility of gases in various liquids
absorptiometer in American English
(æbˌsɔrpʃiˈɑmɪtər, -ˌzɔrp-)
noun
a photoelectric instrument for measuring the concentration of a substance, as a transparent solution, by its absorption of monochromatic light
Derived forms
absorptiometric (æbˌsɔrpʃiəˈmetrɪk, -ˌzɔrp-)
adjective
Word origin
[1875–80; absorpti(on) + -o- + -meter]This word is first recorded in the period 1875–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: massage, musical chairs, slime mold, weekend, weekender-o- is the typical ending of the first element of compounds of Greek origin (as -i- is, in compounds of Latin origin), used regularly in forming new compounds with elementsof Greek origin and often used in English as a connective irrespective of etymology(Franco-Italian; geography; seriocomic; speedometer); -meter is a combining form meaning “measure,” used in the names of instruments measuringquantity, extent, degree, etc. Other words that use the affix -meter include: chronometer, interferometer, micrometer, radiometer, telemeter