pneumotachograph
|pneu-mo-tach-o-graph|
🇺🇸
/ˌnuːmoʊˈtækəɡræf/
🇬🇧
/ˌnjuːməˈtækəɡrɑːf/
instrument that records breath flow
Etymology
'pneumotachograph' originates from New Latin/Greek, specifically from the Greek elements 'pneuma' (πνεῦμα) meaning 'breath, air', 'tachos' (τάχος) meaning 'speed', and 'graph' (γράφω/γραφή) meaning 'write/record'.
'pneumotachograph' was formed in medical/technical usage by compounding these Greek roots (via New Latin formation practices) in the 20th century to denote instruments recording airflow; the word entered English technical literature largely unchanged from that coined compound form.
Initially it meant 'an instrument for recording the speed of air or breath', and it has retained this specific technical meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an instrument that measures and records the rate and pattern of airflow (usually respiratory airflow) by converting flow into an electrical or mechanical signal, often using a resistance element or differential pressure across a mesh or tube.
The pneumotachograph recorded the patient's inspiratory and expiratory flow during the breathing test.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/20 07:39