noun
odometer
oh-DAH-muh-ter
Odometer (noun) means an instrument in a vehicle, usually part of the speedometer, that shows the total distance the vehicle has traveled. Example: “The used car had 80,000 miles on the odometer.”
noun
1
An instrument in a vehicle, usually part of the speedometer, that shows the total distance the vehicle has traveled.
"The used car had 80,000 miles on the odometer."
"I checked the odometer before and after the trip to see how far we had driven."
"The odometer rolled past 100,000 miles on the way to work."
2
A wheel that surveyors roll along the ground to measure distance.
"The surveyor pushed the odometer along the edge of the field."
"A rolling odometer can measure the length of a long fence line."
"She read the distance off the odometer when she reached the end of the path."
How to use odometer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe gauge in a car that tells you how many miles it has gone.
When to use it
It is a standard, neutral word used in everyday and technical writing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
check the odometer
miles on the odometer
trip odometer
odometer reading
odometer fraud
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The used car had 80,000 miles on the _____.
Etymology
The word came into English from French odomètre. The French word was built from Ancient Greek hodós, meaning road or way, and métron, meaning measure.
Rhymes for odometer
See all rhymes for odometer →Frequently asked questions
What does an odometer do?
An odometer records how far a vehicle has traveled. It is usually built into the speedometer.
What is the difference between an odometer and a trip meter?
An odometer shows the total distance a vehicle has traveled. A trip meter is a separate reading that is usually reset to measure a single journey.
Where does the word odometer come from?
It comes from French odomètre, which was formed from Greek words meaning road and measure.
What is the meaning of odometer?
"odometer" (noun) means an instrument in a vehicle, usually part of the speedometer, that shows the total distance the vehicle has traveled.
