Definition of "ergometer" [er•gom•e•ter]

• An instrument for measuring the amount of work done by a muscle or group of muscles. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The accuracy with which this device could study the effect of exercise was amazing, and the ergometer is thus still being used today (in 1997 in Copenhagen alone, five were in use)."
• "NASA officials said on Monday that the "ergometer" - a stationary bike-like contraption specially designed for use in zero gravity - was not functioning properly."
• "The Krankcycle is basically a pimped out upper body ergometer."