echelle

noun

: a diffraction grating made by ruling a plane metallic mirror with lines having a relatively wide spacing

Examples of echelle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The echelle spectrograph for rocky exoplanets and stable spectroscopic observations (ESPRESSO) is an excellent tool to make these observations. Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, ladder, from Old French eschele

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of echelle was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near echelle

Cite this Entry

“Echelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/echelle. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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