hygroscope

[ hahy-gruh-skohp ]

noun

1. an instrument that indicates the approximate humidity of the air.

hygroscope

/ ˈhaɪɡrəˌskəʊp /

noun

1. any device that indicates the humidity of the air without necessarily measuring it

hygroscope

/ hī′grə-skōp′ /

1. An instrument that records changes in atmospheric humidity. Unlike a hygrometer, a hygroscope only indicates a change in relative humidity, without measuring the magnitude of the change.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hygroscope¹

First recorded in 1655–65; hygro- + -scope

Example Sentences

The third is, the hygroscope, moving the punch, which shews the difference between the moistest and driest airs.

From Project Gutenberg

In this way a small area of the surface of the earth is converted into a hygroscope, and these test surfaces tell us whether the ground is cooled to the dew-point or not.

From Project Gutenberg