Device on a car's dashboard (11) Crossword Clue
Answer: SPEEDOMETER (11 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Device on a car's dashboard" with 11 letters is "SPEEDOMETER". A speedometer is an instrument that measures and displays the speed at which a vehicle is traveling, typically in miles per hour (MPH) or kilometers per hour (KPH). This device is essential for helping drivers stay within speed limits and ensures safe driving practices.
Why “Speedometer” Fits
Device on a car’s dashboard: A speedometer is the standard instrument on a car’s dashboard that measures and displays the vehicle’s current speed, so it matches “device on a car’s dashboard” exactly. References describe a speedometer as a gauge or device fitted to motor vehicles that shows instantaneous speed, typically in kilometres per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph), positioned prominently in front of the driver.
A Bit of Background
Speedometers are essential safety and information instruments in vehicles:
- Meaning and function: A speedometer (sometimes called a speed meter) measures how fast a vehicle is moving at any given moment and displays this speed on the instrument cluster, allowing drivers to obey speed limits and adjust speed for road conditions. Modern cars may use analog dials with a needle or digital readouts, but both serve the same purpose—showing real-time speed.
- Operation: Mechanical speedometers used a cable from the transmission or wheels to move a needle, while electronic speedometers use sensors and the car’s computer to convert wheel or transmission rotations into a speed reading shown on the dashboard.
Crossword Solving Insight
For a clue like “Device on a car’s dashboard (11)”:
- Definition match: “Device on a car’s dashboard” is a broad but accurate description of a speedometer, since it is one of the main dashboard instruments and universally present in cars.
- Enumeration: SPEEDOMETER has exactly 11 letters, fitting the (11) pattern; other dashboard terms like “tachometer” (10) or “odometer” (8) do not match this length.
- Familiarity: Because the speedometer is perhaps the most recognisable dashboard gauge and the primary speed-measuring device in cars, SPEEDOMETER is a natural, high-confidence answer to this clue.
