amplidyne

[am-pli-dahyn]

noun

Electricity.

1. a direct-current generator with a rotating armature, capable of magnifying a small amount of power supplied to the field winding of the device and using the amplified power to operate an attached, direct-current motor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of amplidyne¹

First recorded in 1935–40; ampli(fier) + dyne

Example Sentences

Amusingly, Dr Michel found that some words added to the “American Heritage Dictionary” in 2000, like “gypseous” or “amplidyne”, had been in widespread use a century earlier.

From Economist