plethysmograph

American  

[pluh-thiz-muh-graf, -grahf] / pləˈθɪz məˌgræf, -ˌgrɑf /

noun

1. a device for measuring and recording changes in the volume of the body or of a body part or organ.

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plethysmograph British  

/ -ˌɡræf, pləˈθɪzməˌɡrɑːf, -ˈθɪs- /

noun

1. a device for measuring the fluctuations in volume of a bodily organ or part, such as those caused by variations in the amount of blood it contains

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Other Word Forms

• plethysmographic adjective
• plethysmography noun

Etymology

Origin of plethysmograph

First recorded in 1870–75; from Greek plēthysm(ós) “increase, multiplication” ( plēthý(nein) “to increase,” derivative of plêthos “large number, crowd” + -smos, variant of -mos noun suffix) + -o- + -graph; first coined in Italian as pletismografo

Example Sentences

Strapped to their type of plethysmograph, they responded in predictable patterns she labelled "category specific".

From The Guardian • Jul. 5, 2013

If this proved to be true, what would it mean for all these plethysmograph studies?

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2013

Tulane's Drs. George E. Burch and Clarence T. Ray, searching for a simple means of registering psychosomatic disturbances "objectively," used a "plethysmograph."

From Time Magazine Archive

"That is my new plethysmograph," remarked Gaines, noting with some satisfaction how Kennedy had singled it out.

From The Treasure-Train by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

Besides, I had read articles about the chronoscope, the plethysmograph, the sphygmograph, and others of the new psychological instruments.

From The Silent Bullet by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)