wet-bulb thermometer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “wet-bulb thermometer” mean?
A thermometer with its bulb kept moist by a wet cloth, used to measure the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by evaporating water into it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thermometer with its bulb kept moist by a wet cloth, used to measure the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by evaporating water into it.
In meteorology, human biometeorology, and HVAC, it is an instrument used to measure wet-bulb temperature, a key variable for assessing humidity, evaporative cooling potential, and human heat stress (as in Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. UK English may slightly favour 'wet-bulb temperature' over explicit mention of the instrument.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both dialects. More common in academic, meteorological, and industrial safety contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “wet-bulb thermometer” in a Sentence
The wet-bulb thermometer is used to determine XReadings from the wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometers are compared.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wet-bulb thermometer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The instrument needs to be whirled to properly wet-bulb the air sample.
American English
- The technician will wet-bulb the reading as part of the psychrometric process.
adjective
British English
- The wet-bulb thermometer reading is crucial.
American English
- We need the wet-bulb depression value.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in industries like agriculture, construction, or manufacturing where heat-stress guidelines are relevant.
Academic
Common in meteorology, climatology, environmental science, and physiology papers discussing heat and humidity.
Everyday
Virtually never used. General public might encounter 'wet-bulb temperature' in news reports on extreme heatwaves.
Technical
Standard term in HVAC engineering, occupational safety (for WBGT index), and meteorology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “wet-bulb thermometer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “wet-bulb thermometer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wet-bulb thermometer”
- Using 'wet-bulb thermometer' to refer to the temperature reading itself (it's 'wet-bulb temperature').
- Omitting the hyphen, which can cause ambiguity.
- Confusing it with a standard thermometer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A wet-bulb thermometer has its bulb covered by a water-saturated wick. Evaporation from this wick cools the bulb, causing it to show a lower temperature than a dry-bulb (regular) thermometer in the same air, unless the air is at 100% humidity.
No. The 'wet-bulb thermometer' is the instrument. The 'wet-bulb temperature' is the specific temperature value it indicates under standardised conditions (ventilated bulb).
It approximates the cooling effect of sweat evaporation on the human body. A high wet-bulb temperature (e.g., above 35°C) means the body cannot cool itself, leading to potentially fatal heat stress.
It's a specialised instrument. For home humidity measurement, a digital hygrometer is more practical and accurate. DIY methods using two standard thermometers are unreliable without precise ventilation control.
A thermometer with its bulb kept moist by a wet cloth, used to measure the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by evaporating water into it.
Wet-bulb thermometer is usually technical / scientific in register.
Wet-bulb thermometer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwet bʌlb θəˈmɒm.ɪ.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwet bʌlb θɚˈmɑː.mə.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a thermometer wearing a tiny wet sock (the wick) on its bulb. The wetter the sock, the cooler it feels from evaporation, just like your skin.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A WET-BULB THERMOMETER (used in explaining human thermoregulation through sweat evaporation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a wet-bulb thermometer?