condenser

American  

[kuhn-den-ser] / kənˈdɛn sər /

noun

1. a person or thing that condenses.

2. an apparatus for condensing.

3. any device for reducing gases or vapors to liquid or solid form.

4. Optics. a lens or combination of lenses that gathers and concentrates light in a specified direction, often used to direct light onto the projection lens in a projection system.

5. Electricity. capacitor.

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condenser British  

/ kənˈdɛnsə /

noun

1. 1. an apparatus for reducing gases to their liquid or solid form by the abstraction of heat

   2. a device for abstracting heat, as in a refrigeration unit

2. a lens that concentrates light into a small area

3. another name for capacitor

4. a person or device that condenses

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condenser Scientific  

/ kən-dĕn′sər /

1. An apparatus used to condense vapor, usually using cooling or pressurization.

2. See capacitor

3. A mirror, lens, or combination of lenses used to gather light and direct it upon an object or through a projection lens.

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Other Word Forms

• intercondenser noun

Etymology

Origin of condenser

First recorded in 1680–90; condense + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Matthew Gallo was waiting for an automotive part from the U.K. for his vintage Jaguar when he got an email from his carrier saying the $1,600 air-conditioner condenser had been destroyed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

In my power reactor operating experience, we did not change the flow rate of condenser cooling water as the outside temperature increased.

From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2022

“The condenser should be vacuumed every three to six months, or sooner if you have pets,” she says.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2021

This slick hyper-cardioid condenser microphone bears a striking resemblance to the other entries in the Seiren family, until it connects with Razer’s streamer companion app.

From The Verge • Sep. 16, 2021

But unit 1, the oldest reactor in the plant, had an outdated cooling system known as an isolation condenser.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland