heliometer

H4E1L1I1O1M3E1T1E1R1

noun

An astronomical instrument, based on a telescope, for measuring the diameter of the sun; now used to measure the angular distance between stars and other celestial bodies.

OriginAncient Greek Ἥλιος ← French mètre →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounheliometer (plural heliometers)

plural heliometers

  1. An astronomical instrument, based on a telescope, for measuring the diameter of the sun; now used to measure the angular distance between stars and other celestial bodies.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμέτρον“measure”
  2. Frenchmètre
  3. Ancient GreekἭλιος
  4. Englishheliometer

From helio- + -meter, from Ancient Greek Ἥλιος (Hḗlios), from ἥλιος (hḗlios, “sun”), and French mètre, from Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron, “measure”).

More words from Ancient Greek, French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan heliòmetre
  • heliòmetreastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Dutch heliometer
  • heliometerastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Esperanto heliometro
  • heliometroastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Finnish heliometri
  • heliometriastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
French héliomètre
  • héliomètreastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
German Heliometer
  • Heliometerastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Italian eliometro
  • eliometroastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Malay heliometer
  • heliometerastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Polish heliometr
  • heliometrastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Portuguese heliómetro, heliômetro
  • heliómetroastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
  • heliômetroastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Romanian heliometru
  • heliometruastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Russian гелиометр
  • гелиометр (geliometr)astronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Slovak heliometer
  • heliometerastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Spanish heliómetro
  • heliómetroastronomical instrument for measuring the diameter of the sun
Cite this entry
APA

heliometer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heliometer

MLA

“heliometer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heliometer. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heliometer,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heliometer.

Source: heliometer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.