thermophone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareTechnical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “thermophone” mean?
A device for producing sound by the expansion and contraction of air or other gas due to temperature variations, or by the heating effect of an alternating current.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device for producing sound by the expansion and contraction of air or other gas due to temperature variations, or by the heating effect of an alternating current.
Historically, an early device for sound reproduction using the principle of thermal expansion; more broadly, any apparatus that converts heat or thermal variations into sound waves.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling; the term is equally obscure in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes historical scientific innovation or niche technical apparatus.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in all contexts. Likely only encountered in historical texts or specialised technical literature.
Grammar
How to Use “thermophone” in a Sentence
The thermophone [verb: operates/produces sound] by...A thermophone [verb: was constructed/demonstrated] to...[Verb: Use/Study] the thermophone for...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical accounts of physics or telecommunications technology; a footnote in the history of acoustics.
Everyday
Virtually unknown and never used.
Technical
Used in very specific acoustics or audio engineering literature discussing transduction principles or historical devices.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thermophone”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thermophone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thermophone”
- Misspelling as 'thermaphone' or 'thermofone'.
- Confusing it with a 'thermogram' or 'thermometer'.
- Assuming it is a type of telephone for hot climates.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, despite the '-phone' suffix meaning 'sound', it is not a telephone for communication. It is a device that converts heat into sound, used in scientific experiments and early audio research.
No, it is an obsolete technology. Its principles are of academic and historical interest, but modern sound reproduction uses far more efficient methods like dynamic or electrostatic speakers.
It works on the thermoacoustic effect. A material (like a thin wire) is heated by an alternating current, causing rapid expansion and contraction of the surrounding air, which creates sound waves.
The thermophone is often credited to several 19th-century inventors and scientists, including Ernst Ruhmer and W. H. Preece, who experimented with thermal sound generation.
A device for producing sound by the expansion and contraction of air or other gas due to temperature variations, or by the heating effect of an alternating current.
Thermophone is usually technical / historical in register.
Thermophone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθɜːmə(ʊ)fəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθɝːməfoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think THERMO (heat) + PHONE (sound). A device where heat makes the phone (sound) ring, but with sound waves instead of a bell.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEAT IS A VOICE (Thermal energy is conceptualised as having the capacity to 'speak' or produce audible signals).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'thermophone' most likely to be encountered?