Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An instrument used to determine the angle of the earth's magnetic field in respect to the horizontal plane.
  • noun An instrument for showing the inclination of an aircraft or ship relative to the horizontal.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In magnetism, an apparatus for determining the vertical component of the earth's magnetic force.
  • noun An instrument for ascertaining the slope of an embankment; a clinometer or batter-level.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An instrument that displays the angle of an aircraft relative to the horizon
  • noun An instrument that measures magnetic dip; a dip circle
  • noun A surveying instrument that measures angles of inclination or elevation; a clinometer

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an instrument used by surveyors in order to measure an angle of inclination or elevation
  • noun an instrument showing the angle that an aircraft makes with the horizon
  • noun a measuring instrument for measuring the angle of magnetic dip (as from an airplane)

Etymologies

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Examples

  • According to Ye Chen, designer of the device, the camera would take an all-round picture using a built-in inclinometer indicating the horizontal position prior to execution.

    10 Technology wonders that don’t exist yet « 10 Dots 2008

  • They rented a fog machine, an "inclinometer," along with a snow cone maker, where Anvita and Deepika mixed shots of Jaegar and rootbeer.

    Greg Gutfeld: Rioting Update 2008

  • "inclinometer" that scans slopes and hills, allowing it to factor in elevation changes.

    Inc.com 2009

  • An inclinometer that measured the Libertys tilt in the water hung from the ceiling.

    The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

  • Through the smoke, he read the inclinometer as it climbed to six degrees, then seven, eight, and nine.

    The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

  • He didnt need the inclinometer to tell him the ship was rolling.

    The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

  • If the ship were to flood, the inclinometer would gauge the ships list and whether it might capsize.

    The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

  • The inclinometer dropped to eleven degrees and then ten before it finally stabilized at nine.

    The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

  • The inclinometer jumped from two degrees to three then five.

    The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

  • He aimed it at the inclinometer suspended from the ceiling.

    The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

Comments

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  • "There really was not much to say—not at first—but it was noted a moment later that the inclinometer was registering a twelve- to fifteen-degree starboard list—nothing to attract more than a passing glance if the ship had been following a zigzag course. But the Indianapolis was on a true course."

    —Thomas Helm, Ordeal by Sea: The Tragedy of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, 1963 (New York: Signet, 2001), 53

    November 14, 2008