fluorometer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “fluorometer” mean?
A device used to measure the intensity, concentration, or properties of fluorescence in a sample by exposing it to a specific wavelength of light and detecting the emitted light.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device used to measure the intensity, concentration, or properties of fluorescence in a sample by exposing it to a specific wavelength of light and detecting the emitted light.
In analytical chemistry and biomedical fields, a fluorometer is an instrument for quantitative fluorescence analysis, crucial for tasks like DNA quantification, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnostics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The word is technical and used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both regions, confined to laboratories, research papers, and technical manuals.
Grammar
How to Use “fluorometer” in a Sentence
The technician used [the/a] fluorometer to [measure/analyse/determine] [the fluorescence/the concentration].[This/The] fluorometer [measures/detects/quantifies] [target/analyte].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fluorometer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The samples were fluorometered to assess purity. (Rare, technical jargon)
- We need to fluorometer these extracts before proceeding.
American English
- After staining, the cells are fluorometered for quantification. (Rare, technical jargon)
- The protocol states to fluorometer the solution in triplicate.
adverb
British English
- The sample was analysed fluorometrically. (Related adverb)
- The signal was measured fluorometrically using a plate reader.
American English
- They quantified the protein fluorometrically.
- The assay is designed to be read fluorometrically.
adjective
British English
- The fluorometric analysis revealed a high concentration. (Related adjective)
- They followed a standard fluorometer protocol.
American English
- We obtained fluorometer data from the core facility.
- The fluorometric reading was off the scale.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in procurement documents for laboratory equipment or biotech company reports.
Academic
Common in chemistry, biochemistry, environmental science, and biomedical engineering research papers and lab protocols.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used in instrument manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and methodological sections of scientific literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fluorometer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fluorometer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fluorometer”
- Misspelling as 'flourometer' or 'flourimeter'.
- Confusing it with a 'spectrophotometer', which measures light absorption, not emission.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'We will fluorometer the sample'). The correct verb is 'measure with a fluorometer' or 'perform fluorometry'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A spectrophotometer typically measures how much light a sample absorbs. A fluorometer measures the light a sample emits (fluoresces) after being excited by light of a specific wavelength.
Any sample containing or labelled with a fluorescent compound. This includes DNA/RNA stained with dyes, fluorescent proteins in cells, environmental pollutants, certain pharmaceuticals, and clinical biomarkers.
A spectrofluorometer is a more advanced type of fluorometer that can scan across a range of excitation and/or emission wavelengths, providing a full fluorescence spectrum, not just a single measurement.
It is not ideal. Fluorometers are sensitive to stray light, so they often have enclosed sample chambers or are used in dim conditions to prevent external light from interfering with the weak fluorescent signal being measured.
A device used to measure the intensity, concentration, or properties of fluorescence in a sample by exposing it to a specific wavelength of light and detecting the emitted light.
Fluorometer is usually technical/scientific in register.
Fluorometer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌflʊəˈrɒm.ɪ.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌflʊˈrɑː.mə.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FLUOR' (like fluorescence) + 'METER' (a measuring device). It's a meter for fluorescence.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DETECTIVE FOR LIGHT: The instrument interrogates a sample with one colour of light and listens for its secret answer in another colour.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a fluorometer?