weatherglass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowHistorical, Literary, Technical/Archaic
Quick answer
What does “weatherglass” mean?
A simple instrument for indicating changes in atmospheric pressure, typically a sealed glass tube partially filled with liquid, used to predict short-term weather changes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A simple instrument for indicating changes in atmospheric pressure, typically a sealed glass tube partially filled with liquid, used to predict short-term weather changes.
Historically, any simple device, especially a barometer or a specific type of liquid-filled glass tube, used in homes to forecast weather based on air pressure. By extension, it can refer to something that indicates change or serves as a predictor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic in both varieties. No significant regional preference or difference in meaning.
Connotations
Conveys a rustic, historical, or quaint atmosphere.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage in both regions, found primarily in historical texts or deliberate archaisms.
Grammar
How to Use “weatherglass” in a Sentence
consult the weatherglassthe weatherglass shows/indicates/falls/risesa weatherglass for predictingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “weatherglass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No standard verb use)
American English
- (No standard verb use)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb use)
American English
- (No standard adverb use)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective use)
American English
- (No standard adjective use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used. Might appear metaphorically: 'Consumer confidence is a weatherglass for the economy.'
Academic
Used in historical or philological studies of scientific instruments.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern conversation.
Technical
Used in history of science or museum contexts to describe specific antique instruments.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “weatherglass”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “weatherglass”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “weatherglass”
- Using it as a synonym for a modern, digital barometer.
- Using it in contemporary contexts where 'barometer' is appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'weather glass' (though historically written as two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. The modern equivalent is 'barometer', specifically a 'storm glass' for the liquid-in-tube type.
A weatherglass is a specific, simple type of barometer, often using liquid in a sealed tube. 'Barometer' is the general term for all atmospheric pressure measuring instruments.
No, there is no standard verb form derived from 'weatherglass'.
You might find it in historical novels, descriptions of antique instruments, or in metaphorical/literary language describing something that indicates change.
A simple instrument for indicating changes in atmospheric pressure, typically a sealed glass tube partially filled with liquid, used to predict short-term weather changes.
Weatherglass is usually historical, literary, technical/archaic in register.
Weatherglass: in British English it is pronounced /ˈweðəɡlɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈweðərɡlæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A human barometer/weatherglass (figurative: someone whose mood reflects the atmosphere around them).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GLASS that shows the WEATHER. It's an old-fashioned, see-through predictor.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WEATHERGLASS IS A PRIMITIVE FORECASTER; AN OBJECT IS A PREDICTIVE INSTRUMENT.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'weatherglass' most accurately described as?