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oscillator

American  
[os-uh-lay-ter] / ˈɒs əˌleɪ tər /

noun

  1. Electronics. a circuit that produces an alternating output current of a certain frequency determined by the characteristics of the circuit components.

  2. a device or machine producing oscillations.

  3. a person or thing that oscillates.


oscillator British  
/ ˈɒsɪˌleɪtə /

noun

  1. a circuit or instrument for producing an alternating current or voltage of a required frequency

  2. any instrument for producing oscillations

  3. a person or thing that oscillates

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of oscillator

1825–35; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin oscillā ( re ) to swing ( see oscillate) + -tor -tor


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

That distance is more than one thousand times greater than the characteristic size of a single oscillator.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026

The Mamyshev oscillator, however, is far less susceptible to these problems, making it particularly well suited for integrated photonic devices.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2026

The NYSE-based breadth oscillator is now on a sell signal, and the “stocks only” breadth oscillator could follow suit.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026

Combining the stochastic oscillator with support and resistance improves results.

From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026

The phenomenon by which protons keep time with the oscillator even as they accelerate came to be known as “resonance.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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