potentiometer

American  

[puh-ten-shee-om-i-ter] / pəˌtɛn ʃiˈɒm ɪ tər /

noun

Electricity.

1. a device for measuring electromotive force or potential difference by comparison with a known voltage.

2. voltage divider.

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potentiometer British  

/ pəˌtɛnʃɪˈɒmɪtə /

noun

1. an instrument for determining a potential difference or electromotive force by measuring the fraction of it that balances a standard electromotive force

2. a device with three terminals, two of which are connected to a resistance wire and the third to a brush moving along the wire, so that a variable potential can be tapped off: used in electronic circuits, esp as a volume control

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potentiometer Scientific  

/ pə-tĕn′shē-ŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. A mechanical variable resistor.

2. See more at resistor

3. An instrument for measuring an unknown voltage by comparison with a known voltage, such as that of a generator.

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Other Word Forms

• potentiometric adjective
• potentiometry noun

Etymology

Origin of potentiometer

1880–85; potenti(al) + -o- + -meter