1. An instrument that measures the height of clouds above the ground by projecting a light beam upward and detecting its reflection.
Usage: technical; meteorology

Examples

• The airport uses a ceilometer to monitor cloud height for flight operations.
• Meteorologists rely on ceilometer data to assess visibility and weather conditions.
• The ceilometer detected clouds at 2,000 feet above the runway.
• Modern weather stations are equipped with automated ceilometers.
• The ceilometer's laser beam bounced off the cloud base and returned to the sensor.