# thermometer

/θɝˈmɑmətɝ/ (US) · /θɜːmˈɒmɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thermometer
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a tool used to measure how hot or cold something is. You use it to check the weather or to see if you have a fever.

For teachers: an instrument for measuring and indicating temperature, typically consisting of a narrow, sealed glass tube marked with graduations and containing at its lower end a bulb of mercury or alcohol.

## Examples

- The thermometer shows that it is thirty degrees outside.
- The nurse placed the digital thermometer under the patient's tongue to check for a fever.
- Advanced infrared thermometers allow medical professionals to obtain accurate body temperature readings without making physical contact, which is essential for maintaining hygiene in busy clinics.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.