capacitor

American  

[kuh-pas-i-ter] / kəˈpæs ɪ tər /

noun

Electricity.

1. a device for accumulating and holding a charge of electricity, consisting of two equally charged conducting surfaces having opposite signs and separated by a dielectric.

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capacitor British  

/ kəˈpæsɪtə /

noun

1. Former name: condenser.  a device for accumulating electric charge, usually consisting of two conducting surfaces separated by a dielectric

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capacitor Scientific  

/ kə-păs′ĭ-tər /

1. An electrical device consisting of two conducting plates separated by an electrical insulator (the dielectric), designed to hold an electric charge. Charge builds up when a voltage is applied across the plates, creating an electric field between them. Current can flow through a capacitor only as the voltage across it is changing, not when it is constant. Capacitors are used in power supplies, amplifiers, signal processors, oscillators, and logic gates.

2. Compare induction coil resistor

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capacitor Cultural  

1. A device used in electrical circuits. The capacitor stores an electrical charge for short periods of time, and then returns it to the circuit.

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Etymology

Origin of capacitor

First recorded in 1925–30; capacit(y) + -or ²

Example Sentences

Look forward to a Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now” moment, nods to great bands like the Fall, and a well-timed mention of a flux capacitor.

From Los Angeles Times

To support this, the system includes three electrodes and two capacitor banks.

From Science Daily

The system also charged capacitors to useful voltages within minutes, showing its potential for powering small electronics and wireless sensors.

From Science Daily

They had several commercial uses, including in transformers and capacitors, oil used in motors and hydraulic systems, cable insulation, oil-based paint, caulking and plastics.

From Los Angeles Times

Then the array of detached coils, capacitors, pins and transistors are sieved, sorted, sliced and diced as they move along a conveyor belt.

From BBC