hemacytometer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “hemacytometer” mean?
A specialized glass slide with a counting grid, used under a microscope to count blood cells.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specialized glass slide with a counting grid, used under a microscope to count blood cells.
A precise laboratory instrument, typically a thick glass slide with an etched or printed grid, used to manually quantify the concentration of cells (especially red and white blood cells) in a liquid sample, usually blood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary difference is spelling. British English typically uses 'haemacytometer' (derived from 'haema-'), while American English uses 'hemacytometer'. The variant 'hemocytometer' (dropping the 'a') is also common and acceptable in both varieties, though slightly more frequent in American texts.
Connotations
None beyond the regional spelling preference. The instrument and its use are identical.
Frequency
The term has extremely low frequency outside of specific professional and academic contexts. Within those contexts, it is the standard term for the device.
Grammar
How to Use “hemacytometer” in a Sentence
[Subject: technician/lab worker] + [Verb: used/loaded/cleaned] + [Object: the hemacytometer] + [Prepositional Phrase: for the cell count][Subject: the cell count] + [Verb: was performed/was done] + [Prepositional Phrase: with/using a hemacytometer]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in university-level biology, medicine, and biomedical science courses and research papers, particularly in laboratory methodology sections.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in clinical laboratories, hematology research, and any setting involving manual cell culture or blood analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hemacytometer”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hemacytometer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemacytometer”
- Misspelling as 'hemocytometer' (common and often accepted), 'haemocytometer', or 'hemacytometre'. Confusing its function with that of a spectrophotometer or other analyzers.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While designed for blood (hemo-), it is commonly used to count cells in any liquid suspension, including yeast, bacteria, and cultured animal or plant cells.
A hemacytometer is a manual tool requiring visual counting under a microscope. An automated cell counter is an electronic instrument that counts cells automatically, often faster and with less user variability, but sometimes at higher cost and with less ability to assess cell morphology.
Different grid patterns (e.g., Neubauer, Fuchs-Rosenthal) are designed for counting different cell concentrations or types. The Neubauer grid is the most common for blood cells; its specific subdivision allows for easy calculation of cell concentration per unit volume.
It is carefully cleaned with lens paper and a mild solvent like ethanol or distilled water. It should never be wiped with abrasive materials as this can scratch the calibrated grid, rendering it inaccurate.
A specialized glass slide with a counting grid, used under a microscope to count blood cells.
Hemacytometer is usually technical/scientific in register.
Hemacytometer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhiːməˈsaɪtɒmɪtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhiməˈsaɪˌtɑmɪtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Break it down: HEMA (blood) + CYTO (cell) + METER (measurer). It's the 'blood-cell-measurer'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WINDOW INTO THE BLOOD: The hemacytometer provides a structured, magnified view to quantify the microscopic world of the bloodstream.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a hemacytometer?