thermocouple n 1: a kind of thermometer consisting of two wires of different metals that are joined at both ends; one junction is at the temperature to be measured and the other is held at a fixed lower temperature; the current generated in the circuit is proportional to the temperature difference [syn: {thermocouple}, {thermocouple junction}]
Thermocouple \Ther"mo*cou`ple\, n. A thermoelectric couple. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]