Definitions

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

  • noun An instrument for measuring the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A contrivance for measuring the extreme differential capacity of the human lungs.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An instrument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs, or the volume of air which can be expelled from the chest after the deepest possible inspiration. Cf. pneumatometer.

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

  • noun medicine A device used to measure the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs.

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

  • noun a measuring instrument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin spirare ("to breathe") +‎ -meter.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word spirometer.

Examples

  • His recording spirometer is used in many hospitals, his bicycle ergometer is an appreciated working machine, his precision pipettes, respiration apparatus, improved methods for gas analysis and many other inventions bear witness to his constructive skill.

    August Krogh - Biography 1967

  • They also tested how well the kids' lungs were working using a device called a spirometer.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2011

  • One way researchers determine airflow obstruction is by using a machine called a spirometer to measure how much air a person breathes in and out, as well as how fast it is blown out, or expired.

    THE MEDICAL NEWS 2009

  • One way researchers determine airflow obstruction is by using a machine called a spirometer to measure how much air a person breathes in and out, as well as how fast it is blown out, or expired.

    Newswise: Latest News 2009

  • Lung screenings involve a small device called a spirometer, which measures how much air a person breathes in and out of their lungs.

    Craig Daily Press stories 2009

  • The employers also allege Kelly may have misused a machine called a spirometer to measure lung capacity.

    Breaking News - The Post Chronicle 2008

  • You should also get a device called a “spirometer”.

    What to Expect If You Have Bypass Surgery | myFiveBest 2009

  • Includes white blood cells, lymph nodes, spleen and tonsils, among others. incentive spirometer (also called inspirometer) - a plastic device with a flexible tubing and enclosed ball designed to help stimulate deep breaths and therefore prevent lung collapse and infections.

    Glossary of liver transplant terms 2009

  • Within two months, I blew the top off that spirometer once again.

    CSS: Shaping the New You Jack Canfield 2010

  • “Wow,” the nurse exclaimed, staring at her lung-capacity spirometer.

    CSS: Shaping the New You Jack Canfield 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • How can one measure spirit?

    March 4, 2009

  • Fingers.

    March 4, 2009

  • It must be a digital measure.

    March 4, 2009

  • pneometer

    December 29, 2010