dielectric

[dahy-i-lek-trik]

noun

1. a nonconducting substance; insulator.

2. a substance in which an electric field can be maintained with a minimum loss of power.

adjective

1. of or relating to a dielectric substance.

dielectric

/ ˌdaɪɪˈlɛktrɪk /

noun

1. a substance or medium that can sustain a static electric field within it

2. a substance or body of very low electrical conductivity; insulator

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or having the properties of a dielectric

dielectric

1. Having little or no ability to conduct electricity, generally as a result of having no electrons that are free to move.

1. A dielectric substance, especially one used in a capacitor to maintain an electric field between the plates.

dielectric

1. A material that conducts (see conduction) electricity poorly or not at all. If a voltage is applied to a dielectric, the atoms in the material arrange themselves in such a way as to oppose the flow of electric current (see also current). Glass, wood, and plastic are common dielectrics. (See insulator.)

Other Word Forms

• dielectrically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dielectric¹

First recorded in 1830–40; di- ³ + electric

Word History and Origins

Origin of dielectric¹

from _dia- + _electric

Example Sentences

These antennas, built from layers of metal and dielectric materials in a precise bullseye pattern, guide the light in a well-defined direction instead of letting it scatter.

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According to a study published in Nature, an international team of researchers from Rice University and Hanyang University developed the material by embedding clusters of highly dielectric ceramic nanoparticles into an elastic polymer.

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Moreover, by manipulating the chemical composition of the crystal, valuable electromagnetic properties such as dielectric properties, which finds applications in electronics and capacitors, can be precisely engineered.

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They are made of dielectric materials that polarize on the application of the voltage.

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"We found that dielectric relaxation time can be modulated or induced by a very small gap in the material structure," Bae explained.

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