dosimeter
UK[dəʊˈsɪmɪtə]US[doʊˈsɪmɪtər]
n
An instrument for measuring an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation.
n
A device, often worn by personnel working with radioactive materials, for monitoring exposure to radiation.
Morpheme Breakdown
dose
i
meter
dose
measured amount
i
connecting vowel
meter
measuring device
Etymology
The word 'dosimeter' is a modern scientific compound built from classical elements. Its first component, 'dose', traces back to the Greek dosis, meaning 'a giving' or 'gift', which evolved in medical Latin to signify a prescribed quantity of medicine. The second component, '-meter', originates from the Greek metron, meaning 'measure', a prolific root in terms for instruments. Literally, a dosimeter is a "dose-measurer." Its specific application to radiation emerged in the 20th century, where 'dose' semantically shifted from a medicinal quantity to a measured amount of absorbed radiation, reflecting the instrument's critical role in health physics and safety monitoring.
Analysis
Structure: dose (measured amount) + i (connecting vowel) + meter (measuring device)
- dose: From Greek dosis (a giving, a portion), via Latin and French. In this compound, it signifies a measured or administered quantity.
- i: A connecting vowel (often -o- or -i-) used in scientific terminology to join Greek or Latin roots.
- meter: From Greek metron (measure). A combining form meaning a measuring instrument.
Examples
The laboratory technician wore a personal dosimeter to track daily radiation exposure.
After the incident, all workers' dosimeters were checked to assess their safety.
Modern electronic dosimeters can provide real-time readings and alarms.