An instrument or device designed to measure or demonstrate harmonic relationships, frequencies, or musical intervals.
From harmony plus -meter (from Greek metron, 'measure'). This combines two Greek-derived roots to create a technical instrument name following the pattern of scientific instruments like speedometer or thermometer.
The -meter suffix comes from Greek and lets English speakers instantly recognize any device ending in -meter as 'something that measures'—which is why scientists can invent new instruments and everyone intuitively knows they measure something without explanation.
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