Wheatstone bridge

noun

Wheat·​stone bridge ˈ(h)wēt-ˌstōn- 

 chiefly British  -stən-

: an electrical bridge consisting of two branches of a parallel circuit joined by a galvanometer and used for determining the value of an unknown resistance in one of the branches

Examples of Wheatstone bridge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In his writings, Hubbard described the E-meter as a Wheatstone bridge, an electrical circuit designed in 1833 by Samuel Hunter Christie to measure an unknown resistance. —IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

after Sir Charles wheatstone

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Wheatstone bridge

noun

Wheat·​stone bridge

ˌhwēt-ˌstōn-, ˌwēt-, chiefly British -stən-

: a bridge for measuring electrical resistances that consists of a conductor joining two branches of a circuit