an instrument that measures the intensity of light transmitted or reflected by very small areas
microphotometer in American English
(ˌmaikroufouˈtɑmɪtər)
noun
Optics
a photometer adapted for measuring the intensity of light emitted, transmitted, or reflected by minute objects
Derived forms
microphotometric (ˌmaikrouˌfoutəˈmetrɪk)
adjective
microphotometrically
adverb
microphotometry
noun
Word origin
[1895–1900; micro- + photometer]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Marxism, backwind, frame of reference, neon, slapstickmicro- is a combining form with the meanings “small” (microcosm; microgamete), “very small in comparison with others of its kind” (microcomputer; microlith), “too small to be seen by the unaided eye” (microfossil; microorganism), “dealing with extremely minute organisms, organic structures, or quantities ofa substance” (microdissection; microscope), “localized, restricted in scope or area” (microburst; microhabitat), “(of a discipline) focusing on a restricted area” (microeconomics), “containing or dealing with texts that require enlargement to be read” (microfilm; microreader), “one millionth” (microgram)