photochronograph

[ foh-tuh-kron-uh-graf, -grahf ]

noun

1. a device formerly used for taking a series of instantaneous photographs of a rapidly moving object.
2. a picture taken by such a device.
3. a chronograph in which the tracing or record is made by a pencil of light on a sensitized surface.
4. an instrument for measuring small intervals of time by the photographic trace of a pencil of light.

photochronograph

/ -ˌɡræf; ˌfəʊtəʊˈkrɒnəˌɡrɑːf; ˌfəʊtəʊkrəˈnɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. physics an instrument for measuring very small time intervals by the trace made by a beam of light on a moving photographic film

Derived Forms

• photochronography, noun

Other Words From

• pho·to·chro·nog·ra·phy [foh-toh-kr, uh, -, nog, -r, uh, -fee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of photochronograph¹

First recorded in 1885–90; photo- + chronograph

Example Sentences

As a young artilleryman, he invented the polarizing photochronograph to measure the speed of a projectile.

From Time Magazine Archive