Definitions

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

  • noun A thermoelectric device used to measure temperatures accurately, especially one consisting of two dissimilar metals joined so that a potential difference generated between the points of contact is a measure of the temperature difference between the points.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A thermo-electric couple. See thermo-electricity.

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

  • noun A thermoelectric couple.

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

  • noun physics A transducer consisting of two different metals welded together at each end; a voltage is produced that is proportional to the difference in temperature between the two junctions (one of which is normally held at a known temperature)

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

  • noun a kind of thermometer consisting of two wires of different metals that are joined at both ends; one junction is at the temperature to be measured and the other is held at a fixed lower temperature; the current generated in the circuit is proportional to the temperature difference

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Using beakers, a scale and a fancy temperature sensor called a thermocouple, he set to work with ice and water.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Beppi Crosariol 2011

  • The heart of the "heat radio" is a very tiny and very delicate thermocouple, which is mounted at the focal point of a large metallic reflector.

    Modern Mechanix 2008

  • Accepts any type temperature sensor such as thermocouple, RTD, thermistor with a very high degree of accuracy.

    Recently Uploaded Slideshows circuitmentor 2009

  • I strongly recommend you use one of the fine new digital thermocouple thermometers available nowadays to make sure your poultry and other foods are cooked properly for taste and safety.

    Meathead Goldwyn: Crispy Cornell Chicken: An Upstate New York Classic Meathead Goldwyn 2010

  • He sat down with his legs up, cradling the assembly in his lap to attach the new thermocouple.

    Sunshine Loop Marcelle Heath 2011

  • According to Wikipedia, all he needed to do was remove the old thermocouple and disconnect the gas tube to the pilot light and main burner.

    Sunshine Loop Marcelle Heath 2011

  • I strongly recommend you use one of the fine new digital thermocouple thermometers available nowadays to make sure your poultry and other foods are cooked properly for taste and safety.

    Meathead Goldwyn: Crispy Cornell Chicken: An Upstate New York Classic Meathead Goldwyn 2010

  • He put his bagel in the bag with the thermocouple and looped it around his good arm so that he could drink his coffee on the way home.

    Sunshine Loop Marcelle Heath 2011

  • A week later, Calvin was downtown buying a thermocouple for the washing machine in the hardware store.

    Sunshine Loop Marcelle Heath 2011

  • I start checking the interior temp with a very thin probe very fast thermocouple thermometer.

    Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn: How to Grill Great Steakhouse Steaks 2010

Comments

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  • They're so hot!

    April 30, 2011

  • I can't see from here, but Alfredo describes how they are taking the temperature of the superhot steam with long wires linked to a thermocouple. A thousand degrees Celsius? I don't believe it either. Sounds way too hot.
    Victoria Bruce, No Apparent Danger: The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado Del Ruiz (New York: HarperCollins, 2001),  Prologue

    May 1, 2016