Meaning & use
pulse oximeter
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablemedical
A medical device that measures the amount of oxygen in a person's blood, usually by clipping onto a finger.
Grammar: Countable: a pulse oximeter, two pulse oximeters. Often used in hospitals or at home.
Patterns
- use a pulse oximeter
- a pulse oximeter reading
The nurse put a pulse oximeter on the patient's finger.
You can buy a pulse oximeter at the pharmacy.
The pulse oximeter showed that his oxygen level was low.
Word forms
| plural | pulse oximeters |
|---|
Common combinations
- finger pulse oximeter
- A finger pulse oximeter is easy to use at home.
- pulse oximeter reading
- The pulse oximeter reading was 98%, which is normal.
- wear a pulse oximeter
- Patients with sleep apnea may wear a pulse oximeter overnight.
- portable pulse oximeter
- The portable pulse oximeter fits in your pocket.
Synonyms and how they differ
- oximeter
- Short form of pulse oximeter; often used when the context is clear.
- oxygen monitor
- A more general term for any device that measures oxygen levels; less specific than pulse oximeter.
Word family
- oximetry noun
- The measurement of oxygen saturation in the blood.
Commonly confused: pulse oximeter or oximeter?
pulse oximeter vs oximeter
This is just a shorter way to say pulse oximeter, not a different device.
Practice
The doctor used a ______ to check the oxygen level in my blood.
Choose one answer.
A pulse oximeter measures oxygen in the blood. A thermometer measures temperature, a stethoscope listens to the heart and lungs, and a blood pressure cuff measures blood pressure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pulse oximeter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.