alcoholometer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / TechnicalFormal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “alcoholometer” mean?
A scientific instrument, typically a hydrometer, used to measure the concentration or specific gravity of alcohol in a liquid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A scientific instrument, typically a hydrometer, used to measure the concentration or specific gravity of alcohol in a liquid.
Any device or apparatus designed to determine the alcohol content, strength, or proof in a solution, often used in brewing, distilling, winemaking, or customs and excise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. The spelling 'alcoholmeter' (without the 'o') is a common variant in both regions, but 'alcoholometer' is the more etymologically transparent form.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly more likely to appear in British technical publications related to brewing history, but this is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “alcoholometer” in a Sentence
[verb] + alcoholometer: use/read/calibrate/immerse the alcoholometeralcoholometer + [verb]: indicates/shows/measures (the strength)[adjective] + alcoholometer: accurate/standard/sensitive alcoholometerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alcoholometer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A (Not a verb)
American English
- N/A (Not a verb)
adverb
British English
- N/A (Not an adverb)
American English
- N/A (Not an adverb)
adjective
British English
- N/A (Not an adjective)
American English
- N/A (Not an adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the production quality control of breweries, distilleries, and wineries.
Academic
Appears in chemistry, chemical engineering, and food science texts on fermentation and distillation.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in laboratory, industrial, and regulatory contexts involving alcohol measurement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alcoholometer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alcoholometer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alcoholometer”
- Misspelling: 'alcoholmeter' (common variant) vs. 'alcoholometer'.
- Confusing it with a breathalyser (which measures alcohol in breath, not liquid).
- Using it as a synonym for any chemical testing kit.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An alcoholometer measures alcohol concentration in a liquid. A breathalyser (or breathalyzer) estimates blood alcohol content from a breath sample.
They are synonyms. 'Alcoholometer' is etymologically clearer (alcohol + -o- + -meter). 'Alcoholmeter' is a common contracted form. Usage depends on convention in specific texts or industries.
Brewers, distillers, winemakers, quality control chemists, customs and excise officers, and laboratory technicians in relevant fields.
It is designed for ethanol in aqueous solutions (like beer, wine, spirits). Its calibration is specific to ethanol-water mixtures and may not be accurate for other alcohols or complex solutions.
A scientific instrument, typically a hydrometer, used to measure the concentration or specific gravity of alcohol in a liquid.
Alcoholometer is usually formal / technical in register.
Alcoholometer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌælkəhɒˈlɒmɪtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌælkəhɔːˈlɑːmɪtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ALCOHOL + O + METER. It's a METER (measurer) for ALCOHOL. The 'O' connects them like in 'therm-o-meter'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL FOR SEEING THE INVISIBLE (It makes the abstract property of 'alcoholic strength' visible/numerical).
Practice
Quiz
An alcoholometer is most closely related to which other instrument?