Preposition: of

• opinion: Our aim is to support and encourage and to be a barometer of public opinion and expectations.

• attitude: JB - Media reaction to the Board's work is a useful, if flawed, barometer of public attitudes.

• success: But why should that be a barometer of success, I hear you cry?

• state: Our reaction is a real barometer of the state of our hearts.

• health: The number of business failures is seen as a barometer of overall economic health.

Converse of object

• invent: It is named after the Italian physicist who invented the mercury barometer in 1643.

• provide: The glen provides a good barometer for the extent of native woodland in the landscape.

• become: The EPI has now become a well-established barometer of ethical trends in the UK.

• use: He said, " We should just use the barometer of feedback from people in the city.

Adjective modifier

• aneroid: Not too bad a piece of work by Munro in 1891, using existing maps and aneroid barometer!

• accurate: New Writing Scotland remains the most accurate barometer of new trends in Scottish writing.

• sensitive: The polar regions are sensitive barometers of climate change, and we value their biodiversity.

• useful: A The ESR is a useful barometer of disease activity.

• key: The figures show that last month's surge was the fastest pace of job growth since the key economic barometer began three years ago.

• good: The bank balance is our best barometer of the business.

Modifies a noun

• reading: Trend setting When taking barometer readings to forecast the weather the actual reading is less important than the overall trend.

• survey: Her comment was made on the day the EU published its first-ever barometer survey of attitude toward disabled people.

Noun used with modifier

• mercury: Trying to read a mercury barometer on board a ship caught in a hurricane is not easy.

• brand: Brand barometer - Orange builds a brighter brand Mobile phone company's image rises after " one brand " merger with broadband provider Wanadoo.

• life: Cleaner air helps quality of life Environment minister Michael Meacher has published the latest quality of life barometer.