tachometer

noun

ta·​chom·​e·​ter ta-ˈkä-mə-tər How to pronounce tachometer (audio)
tə-
: a device for indicating speed of rotation

Did you know?

A tachometer is literally a "speed-measurer", since the Greek root tach- means "speed". This is clear in the names of the tachyon, a particle of matter that travels faster than the speed of light (if it actually exists, it's so fast that it's impossible to see with any instrument), and tachycardia, a medical condition in which the heart races uncontrollably. Since the speed that an auto tachometer measures is speed of rotation of the crankshaft, the numbers it reports are revolutions per minute, or rpm's.

Examples of tachometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Bradley Iger The current-generation 911 (992 in Porsche-speak) will probably be the last to use an analog dial as a tachometer. Bradley Iger, Ars Technica, 2 Dec. 2023 In the Aston Martin layout, there’s a media display in the center, surrounded by the speedometer and tachometer, and outlined in the brand’s distinctive green. Richard Lawler, The Verge, 20 Dec. 2023 Among other things, the Trieste’s tachometer, which measured how fast the submarine was descending, broke before the mission even began. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2023 Where the Miura has a simple, low dashboard showcasing a giant speedometer on the left, matching tachometer on the right, and ancillary gauges standing proud off to the side, the Countach jams everything into a traditional cluster behind the wheel. Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 4 May 2023 Damaged and beyond use was the tachometer, which was to have registered the vessel’s speed of descent. William J. Broad, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023 On top of that is a big, gaudy aftermarket tachometer that goes all the way up to 10,000. Tim Stevens, Ars Technica, 31 Oct. 2023 At least from the driver’s seat, there’s a reassuringly familiar sight for enthusiasts of the marque: front and center is a convincing digital representation of a massive tachometer, accentuated by a 7,500 rpm redline. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2023 They are clustered, Formula 1 style, around a large tachometer, with the relatively tiny speedometer relegated to the bottom right, where it's partly obscured by the Scorpio column switches. Ray Hutton, Car and Driver, 18 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tachometer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek tachos speed + English -meter

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tachometer was in 1810

Dictionary Entries Near tachometer

Cite this Entry

“Tachometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tachometer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tachometer

noun
ta·​chom·​e·​ter ta-ˈkäm-ət-ər How to pronounce tachometer (audio)
tə-
: a device for indicating speed of rotation
Etymology

from Greek tachos "speed" and English meter "an instrument for measuring"

More from Merriam-Webster on tachometer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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