Thermocouples

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A device used to measure temperature, consisting of two different conductors that generate a voltage related to the temperature difference
2. An instrument that converts thermal energy into electrical energy, often utilized in industrial and scientific applications for accurate readings
3. A type of sensor made from two dissimilar metals joined at one end, producing a voltage that corresponds to the temperature at that junction

Etymology: "Thermocouples" is the plural of "thermocouple", a device that measures temperature by producing a small voltage where two different metal wires are joined. The name is a plain modern compound: "thermo-", from the Greek "thermos" meaning "hot", combined with the English "couple", meaning a pair or joined set. The "thermo" element traces back through Ancient Greek to a much older root meaning warmth or heat, while "couple" came into English from Old French and Latin, originally referring to something tied or linked together. The device works because two dissimilar metals joined at one point generate a voltage that depends on the temperature difference between that junction and the other ends of the wires. The name describes that joining: a pair of unlike conductors, coupled at the spot being measured. The compound reflects a scientific naming habit of the 19th and 20th centuries, when engineers built technical words from classical Greek and Latin pieces to describe new instruments.

Synonyms: temperature sensors, thermometers