etalon

American

[eyt-l-on] / ˈeɪt lˌɒn /

noun

Optics.

an interferometer consisting of two glass plates that reflect approximately half of each ray of light incident upon them and that are separated by a small, fixed distance: used to compare wavelengths and to study atomic spectra.

etalon British

/ ˈɛtəˌlɒn /

noun

physics a device used in spectroscopy to measure wavelengths by interference effects produced by multiple reflections between parallel half-silvered glass or quartz plates

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of etalon

1900–05; < French; Middle French estalon standard, derivative of Old French estal place < Germanic; stall ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Finnish builder completed the sale of its businesses in Russia to Etalon Group in May 2022.

From Reuters

But the man who collected the prize on Chebbi's behalf from soldier-turned-President Ibrahim Traoré, said that winning the Etalon d'or du Yennenga - as the top award is known - "means a lot" to Chebbi.

From BBC

YIT announced in April it would sell its business in the country to Etalon Group.

From Reuters

YIT announced early in April it would sell its business in the country to Etalon Group.

From Reuters

The theme is African cinema and public policy, and more than 100 films are competing for the coveted Etalon d'Or.

From The Guardian

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023