tensiometer

American  

[ten-see-om-i-ter] / ˌtɛn siˈɒm ɪ tər /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring longitudinal stress in wires, structural beams, etc.

2. an instrument for measuring the surface tension of a liquid.

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tensiometer British  

/ ˌtɛnsɪˈɒmɪtə /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring the tensile strength of a wire, beam, etc

2. a device that measures differences in vapour pressures. It is used to determine transition points by observing changes of vapour pressure with temperature

3. an instrument for measuring the surface tension of a liquid, usually consisting of a sensitive balance for measuring the force needed to pull a wire ring from the surface of the liquid

4. an instrument for measuring the moisture content of soil

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Etymology

Origin of tensiometer

First recorded in 1910–15; tensio(n) + -meter

Example Sentences

On his sprawling 90-acre farm, Harpreet Singh crouched down amongst his rice paddy stalks and checked his tensiometer, a device planted in the ground to measure moisture content.

From Reuters • Sep. 16, 2014

One such tool is the tensiometer: a porous, ceramic bulb attached to a color-coded meter that reflects the moisture content of soil.

From Scientific American • Apr. 11, 2011