/therr"meuh kup'euhl/ , n. Physics.
a device that consists of the junction of two dissimilar metallic conductors, as copper and iron, in which an electromotive force is induced when the conductors are maintained at different temperatures, the force being related to the temperature difference: used to determine the temperature of a third substance by connecting it to the junction of the metals and measuring the electromotive force produced. Also called thermoelectric couple, thermoelectric thermometer .
[ 1885-90; THERMO- + COUPLE ]