chronometer
chronometer Lexical Profile
chronometer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An exceptionally precise instrument for measuring time, specifically one designed to maintain accuracy despite motion or variations in temperature, humidity, and air pressure.
"The museum displayed an original marine chronometer used by 18th-century explorers to determine their exact longitude on the open seas."
Word Nuance & Usage
While generally synonymous with clocks or watches, 'chronometer' is strictly reserved for timepieces that meet rigorous, certified standards of precision, historically serving a critical role in celestial navigation at sea.
• Rhymes for chronometer
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 18th century from the Greek 'khronos' (time) and 'metron' (measure). It originally referred to an instrument invented by Jeremy Thacker in 1714.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.