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end effector

American  
[end i-fek-ter] / ˈɛnd ɪˈfɛk tər /

noun

  1. a tool, such as a gripper, vacuum, or drill, affixed to the end of a robotic arm to enable the machine to fulfill a specific purpose.

Etymology

Origin of end effector

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

But the trial was scrubbed because of problems with the arm's hand, known in NASAese as an "end effector."

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.