maximum thermometer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “maximum thermometer” mean?
A type of thermometer that records the highest temperature reached since it was last reset.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of thermometer that records the highest temperature reached since it was last reset.
A thermometer designed to retain its reading at the highest point of a temperature fluctuation, commonly used in meteorological, horticultural, and medical contexts to track peak temperatures over a period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling conventions follow national norms (e.g., 'metre' vs. 'meter' in other contexts, but 'thermometer' is standard).
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both dialects, found primarily in technical manuals, weather reporting, and scientific education.
Grammar
How to Use “maximum thermometer” in a Sentence
The [noun] uses a maximum thermometer.Record the [temperature] with a maximum thermometer.The maximum thermometer showed [number] degrees.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “maximum thermometer” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The maximum-thermometer reading was taken at noon.
American English
- We need a maximum-thermometer function for this experiment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in businesses selling scientific or gardening equipment.
Academic
Used in physics, meteorology, geography, and environmental science courses and texts.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used by gardening enthusiasts monitoring greenhouse temperatures.
Technical
Standard term in meteorology, climatology, laboratory work, and HVAC system monitoring.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “maximum thermometer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “maximum thermometer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “maximum thermometer”
- Incorrect compound formation: 'thermometer maximum' (wrong word order).
- Misuse: Referring to any thermometer showing a high reading as a 'maximum thermometer' (it is a specific type with a retaining mechanism).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically by shaking it sharply (for mercury types) or using a magnet or push-button (for some modern designs) to return the indicator to the current temperature.
Not exactly. A clinical fever thermometer is often a type of maximum thermometer, as it retains the peak reading, but 'maximum thermometer' is a broader category used in many fields.
Often a mercury or alcohol column with a constriction in the bore that prevents the fluid from falling back freely, thus holding it at the highest point.
In Stevenson screens at weather stations, in greenhouses, in wine cellars, and sometimes in combination with a minimum thermometer as a 'six's thermometer'.
A type of thermometer that records the highest temperature reached since it was last reset.
Maximum thermometer is usually technical / scientific in register.
Maximum thermometer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmæksɪməm θəˈmɒmɪtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmæksəməm θɚˈmɑːmɪtɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MAXimum thermometer keeps the MAX score of the temperature, like a high-score board for heat.
Conceptual Metaphor
A THERMOMETER IS A RECORDER / A TEMPERATURE IS A SCORE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a maximum thermometer?