1. An
instrument for
measuring the
density of a fluid.
Synonym: densimeter.
2. An
instrument for measuring, by
virtue of
relative turbidity, the
growth of
bacteria in broth; useful in
microbiologic assay of nutrients and antibiotics,
phage research, etc.
3. An
instrument for
measuring the
density of components (e.g., protein fractions) separated by
electrophoresis or chromatography, utilizing
easy absorption or reflection.
4. An
electronic instrument for
measuring the blackening of radiographic movie by
X-ray exposure; used for movie sensitometry,
bone densitometry,
measurement of
line spread function (microdensitometer).
Origin: L. Densitas, density, + G. Metron, measure