The Collaborative International Dictionary
Aneroid \An"e*roid\, a. [Gr. 'a priv. + nhro`s wet, moist + -oid: cf. F. an['e]ro["i]de.] Containing no liquid; -- said of a kind of barometer.
Aneroid barometer, a barometer the action of which depends on the varying pressure of the atmosphere upon the elastic top of a metallic box (shaped like a watch) from which the air has been exhausted. An index shows the variation of pressure.
Barometer \Ba*rom"e*ter\, n. [Gr. ba`ros weight + -meter: cf. F. barom[`e]tre.] An instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere, and hence for judging of the probable changes of weather, or for ascertaining the height of any ascent.
Note: The barometer was invented by Torricelli at Florence
about 1643. It is made in its simplest form by filling
a graduated glass tube about 34 inches long with
mercury and inverting it in a cup containing mercury.
The column of mercury in the tube descends until
balanced by the weight of the atmosphere, and its rise
or fall under varying conditions is a measure of the
change in the atmospheric pressure. At the sea level
its ordinary height is about 30 inches (760
millimeters). See Sympiesometer.
--Nichol.
Aneroid barometer. See Aneroid barometer, under Aneroid.
Marine barometer, a barometer with tube contracted at bottom to prevent rapid oscillations of the mercury, and suspended in gimbals from an arm or support on shipboard.
Mountain barometer, a portable mercurial barometer with tripod support, and long scale, for measuring heights.
Siphon barometer, a barometer having a tube bent like a hook with the longer leg closed at the top. The height of the mercury in the longer leg shows the pressure of the atmosphere.
Wheel barometer, a barometer with recurved tube, and a float, from which a cord passes over a pulley and moves an index.
Wiktionary
n. A barometer in which variations in pressure are measured using a partially evacuated capsule whose sides move in and out.
WordNet
n. a barometer that measures pressure without using fluids [syn: aneroid]
Usage examples of "aneroid barometer".
Monsieur Mangin held on his lap his few special provisions for the journey: a hamper of sandwiches and wine, a pocket compass and a small aneroid barometer.
And hasn't this aneroid barometer got cards and spades over the old-style models?
One camera was damaged beyond use, as were also my aneroid barometer and binoculars.
He led Keefer to the aneroid barometer affixed to the rear of the pilot-house.
Now, upon his assigning some duty to his fellow-Professor (it was only the carrying of an aneroid barometer), the matter suddenly came to a head.
The Sakkaro boy came running after them, waving, something which turned out to be an aneroid barometer, and all three got into the back seat.
Mr Chubb turned from his contemplation of the big, oak-cased aneroid barometer on his office wall after giving the glass one final tap with a knuckle.