stroboscope

noun

stro·​bo·​scope ˈstrō-bə-ˌskōp How to pronounce stroboscope (audio)
: an instrument for determining the speed of cyclic motion (such as rotation or vibration) that causes the motion to appear slowed or stopped: such as
a
: a revolving disk with holes around the edge through which an object is viewed
b
: a device that uses a flash tube to intermittently illuminate a moving object
c
: a cardboard disk with marks to be viewed under intermittent light

Examples of stroboscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Using a stroboscope to generate extremely brief bursts of light, Massachusetts Institute of Technology electrical engineering professor Harold Edgerton photographed this splash made by a drop of milk in 1957. Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Greek strobos whirling + International Scientific Vocabulary -scope

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stroboscope was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near stroboscope

Cite this Entry

“Stroboscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stroboscope. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on stroboscope

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!