What it means
The ending for a tool that measures something. A thermometer measures temperature, a spirometerspy-ROM-eh-terA device that measures how much air a person breathes in or out, and how fast.spir/o breathing-meter instrument for measuringFull entry measures breath, a glucometer measures blood glucose and a sphygmomanometer measures blood pressure. In the metric system it is also a unit of length, as in centimeter. The related ending -metry means the act of measuring, as in pulse oximetry.
Related terms
-metry
A word ending that means the process of measuring.
spirometer
A device that measures how much air a person breathes in or out, and how fast.