olfactometer

noun

ol·​fac·​tom·​e·​ter ˌäl-ˌfak-ˈtä-mə-tər How to pronounce olfactometer (audio)
ˌōl-
: an instrument for measuring the sensitivity of the sense of smell especially in regard to intensity, concentration, or quality of an odor

Examples of olfactometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Larvae of the French scarab dung beetle Agrilinus constans were reared on four different artificial substrates containing dung from cattle, horse, sheep or wild boar, and responses of imagos to dung volatiles were then behaviourally tested in an olfactometer. Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 23 Mar. 2011 The group use a device called an olfactometer, which produces waves of smell to see how sensitive a person’s senses are. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2010 To investigate, the scientists placed samples of favored and nonfavored soils at the end of a Y-junction olfactometer in which each arm was scented by a different dirt. Jennifer Frazer, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2020 But for use cases like trying to locate a concentrated marijuana plant odor, a field olfactometer lets testers roam and continue to smell on the go. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 15 Jan. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of olfactometer was in 1889

Dictionary Entries Near olfactometer

Cite this Entry

“Olfactometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olfactometer. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

olfactometer

noun
ol·​fac·​tom·​e·​ter ˌäl-ˌfak-ˈtäm-ət-ər, ˌōl- How to pronounce olfactometer (audio)
: an instrument for measuring the sensitivity of the sense of smell in regard to intensity, concentration, or quality of an odor
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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