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contactor

American  
[kon-tak-ter, kuhn-tak-ter] / ˈkɒn tæk tər, kənˈtæk tər /

noun

Electricity.
  1. a mechanically operated switch for continuously establishing and interrupting an electric power circuit.


contactor British  
/ kɒnˈtæktə /

noun

  1. a type of switch for repeatedly opening and closing an electric circuit. Its operation can be mechanical, electromagnetic, or pneumatic

"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 contactor

First recorded in 1905–10; contact + -or 2

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.

It is Home Depot’s largest acquisition in its history and with it, it steps more aggressively into the fast growing professional builder and contactor business.

From Seattle Times

Ford's recall fix was software updates to monitor contactor temperature and reduce battery power to prevent damage to the contactor, and to monitor contactor resistance to identify an overheated contactor and reduce vehicle power to prevent further damage.

From Reuters

Rheinmetall said it would be providing the new 900-volt generation of electrically powered vehicles with a new type of contactor to a premium German automaker.

From Reuters

"The guys are executing their right to be an independent contactor," McDowell reflected.

From BBC

Last week, project officials told the board it paid Capital Rail Constructors, the contactor responsible for building the rail line, an additional $4 million for its continued oversight of the line, which will continue until Metro is ready to move to the next phase in the project’s completion.

From Washington Post