Meaning & use
ultrasonic unit
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A device that produces or detects sound waves too high for humans to hear.
Grammar: Countable: one unit, two units; often used with 'an' or 'the'.
Patterns
- an ultrasonic unit for something
- fit/install an ultrasonic unit
- an ultrasonic unit that does something
The clinic uses an ultrasonic unit to clean instruments without heat.
Engineers fitted an ultrasonic unit to the pipe to check for cracks.
This small ultrasonic unit sends out pulses at around 40,000 hertz.
nouncountabletechnicalmedical
A standard measurement based on ultrasound, such as a medical scan score.
Grammar: Countable and usually singular in this sense; often appears with 'per' or 'in'.
Patterns
- measured in ultrasonic units
- an ultrasonic unit of measurement
The density of the tissue is recorded in ultrasonic units.
Doctors compared the readings, which were given in ultrasonic units.
Word forms
| plural | ultrasonic units |
|---|
Common combinations
- ultrasonic unit cleaning
- Ultrasonic unit cleaning removes dirt from tiny parts.
- handheld ultrasonic unit
- A handheld ultrasonic unit makes field checks quick.
- ultrasonic unit sensor
- The ultrasonic unit sensor detects movement in the dark.
- install an ultrasonic unit
- They installed an ultrasonic unit above the door.
- ultrasonic unit frequency
- The ultrasonic unit frequency is above human hearing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ultrasound machine
- More common in medical contexts; 'ultrasonic unit' sounds more technical and is used for industrial devices too.
- sonar device
- Refers specifically to equipment that uses sound underwater, while an ultrasonic unit can work in air or in a lab.
Word family
- ultrasonic adjective
- Relating to sound waves above the range of human hearing.
- ultrasonics noun
- The study or use of ultrasonic waves.
- ultrasound noun
- High-frequency sound, or the medical scan that uses it.
Commonly confused: ultrasonic unit or supersonic?
ultrasonic unit vs supersonic
Supersonic means faster than the speed of sound, while ultrasonic means a frequency above human hearing. A supersonic jet is fast; an ultrasonic unit is high-pitched.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ultrasonic unit' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An ultrasonic unit is a device, so it can be bought and used in a lab. The other options treat 'unit' as a measurement of speed, voice, or meaning, which does not fit this compound.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ultrasonic unit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.