oscilloscope

noun

os·​cil·​lo·​scope ä-ˈsi-lə-ˌskōp 

ə-

: an instrument in which the variations in a fluctuating electrical quantity appear temporarily as a visible wave form on a display screen

oscilloscopic

ä-ˌsi-lə-ˈskä-pik  ˌä-sə-lə- 

adjective

Did you know?

In Latin oscillare means "to swing", and our word oscillation usually means "vibration" or "variation", especially in a changing flow of electricity. The oscilloscope basically draws a graph of an electrical signal. Since all kinds of physical phenomena can be converted into an electric voltage, oscilloscopes can be used to measure such things as sound, light, and heat. So an oscilloscope can analyze how one clarinet's sound is different from another's, or how one bulb's light differs from another's. Auto mechanics use oscilloscopes to measure engine vibrations; doctors use them to measure brain waves. Audio technicians use oscilloscopes to diagnose problems in audio equipment; TV and radio technicians use them to diagnose TV and radio problems. But oscilloscopes are most essential today to high-tech electronics experimentation.

Examples of oscilloscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By using an oscilloscope to measure the electromagnetic radiation while the token is authenticating itself, the researchers can detect tiny execution time differences that reveal a token’s ephemeral ECDSA key, also known as a nonce. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 3 Sep. 2024

To really make an identification requires an oscilloscope, a scientific instrument that graphically shows the intensity of sound, measuring frequency, wavelength and amplitude. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024

Not only that, but the new method removes the biggest barrier holding back previously existing methods from exploiting side channels: the need to have instruments such as an oscilloscope, electric probes, or other objects touching or being in proximity to the device being attacked. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 13 June 2023

With an oscilloscope, the game lacks a certain visual élan, with the fuel and altitude readings displayed as two horizontal lines. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

oscilloscope

noun

os·​cil·​lo·​scope ä-ˈsil-ə-ˌskōp 

ə-

: an instrument in which the variations in a continually changing electrical quantity appear temporarily as a visible wave form on the screen of a cathode-ray tube

Medical Definition

oscilloscope

noun

os·​cil·​lo·​scope ä-ˈsil-ə-ˌskōp, ə- 

: an instrument in which the variations in a fluctuating electrical quantity appear temporarily as a visible waveform on the fluorescent screen of a cathode-ray tube

called also cathode-ray oscilloscope

oscilloscopic

ä-ˌsil-ə-ˈskäp-ik  ˌäs-ə-lə- 

adjective

oscilloscopically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb