flowmeter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical
Quick answer
What does “flowmeter” mean?
A device for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) through a pipe or channel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) through a pipe or channel.
Any instrument or system designed to quantify the volumetric or mass flow rate of a substance in motion, often used in industrial, medical, and environmental monitoring contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Both variants use the compound 'flowmeter' as standard, though the hyphenated form 'flow-meter' is occasionally seen in both regions.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and technical in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “flowmeter” in a Sentence
The [type] flowmeter measures the flow of [substance] in the [system].We need to install a flowmeter on the [pipe/line].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flowmeter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The system needs to be flowmetered for accurate billing.
- They are flowmetering the new pipeline section.
American English
- We need to flowmeter the main supply line.
- The contractor will be flowmetering the coolant loops.
adverb
British English
- [This form is extremely rare and non-standard]
American English
- [This form is extremely rare and non-standard]
adjective
British English
- The flowmeter technology is state-of-the-art.
- We reviewed the flowmeter data.
American English
- We need a flowmeter calibration certificate.
- The flowmeter readings were inconsistent.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in procurement, project specifications, and operational reports for industrial plants.
Academic
Found in engineering, physics, and environmental science papers describing experimental setups.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
The primary domain; used in manuals, schematics, and process control discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flowmeter”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flowmeter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flowmeter”
- Misspelling as 'flow meter' (two words) or 'flowmetre' (British spelling of 'meter' is not typically applied to this compound).
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'to flowmeter the pipe'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one compound word: 'flowmeter'. The hyphenated form 'flow-meter' is a less common variant.
Yes, but specific types of flowmeters are designed for different fluid states (liquid or gas) and properties (viscosity, cleanliness).
A water meter is a specific type of flowmeter designed only for water, often for billing purposes. 'Flowmeter' is the broader term for any fluid measurement device.
In very technical jargon, it can be verbed ('to flowmeter a pipe'), but this is non-standard and rare. The preferred phrasing is 'to measure the flow in' or 'to install a flowmeter on'.
A device for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) through a pipe or channel.
Flowmeter is usually technical in register.
Flowmeter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfləʊmiːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfloʊmiːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the word 'flowmeter']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: FLOW + METER. It's a meter (measuring device) for flow (of liquid or gas).
Conceptual Metaphor
A 'traffic counter for fluids'.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'flowmeter' MOST commonly used?