Standard Lemma guide

photomultiplier

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A device, normally in the form of a tube, that uses a photocathode to convert photons into photoelectrons which are then amplified.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bheh2- Proto-Indo-European *bhéh2os Proto-Hellenic *pháwos Ancient Greek φᾰ́ος (phắos) Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs) Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-)der. English photo- English multiple Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English multiply Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English multiplier English photomultiplier From photo- + multiplier.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 光電倍增管 /光电倍增管 (guāngdiàn bèizēngguǎn) — device that uses a photocathode
  • Irish: fóta-iolróir — device that uses a photocathode
  • Italian: fotomoltiplicatore — device that uses a photocathode
  • Japanese: 光電子増倍管 (kōdenshi zōbaikan) — device that uses a photocathode
  • Kazakh: фотоэлектрондық көбейткіш (fotoélektrondyq köbeitkış) — device that uses a photocathode
  • Korean: 광전 증폭관 (gwangjeon jeungpokgwan) — device that uses a photocathode
  • Polish: fotopowielacz — device that uses a photocathode
  • Portuguese: fotomultiplicador — device that uses a photocathode
  • Spanish: fotomultiplicador — device that uses a photocathode
  • Vietnamese: đèn nhân quang điện — device that uses a photocathode