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inductor

American  
[in-duhk-ter] / ɪnˈdʌk tər /

noun

  1. Also called inductanceElectricity. a coil used to introduce inductance into an electric circuit.

  2. a person who inducts, as into office.


inductor British  
/ ɪnˈdʌktə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that inducts

  2. a component, such as a coil, in an electrical circuit the main function of which is to produce inductance

"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

inductor Scientific  
/ ĭn-dŭktər /
  1. An electrical component or circuit, especially an induction coil, that introduces inductance into a circuit.

  2. A substance that causes an induced reaction. Unlike a catalyst, an inductor is irreversibly transformed in the reaction.


Etymology

Origin of inductor

1645–55; < Medieval Latin: importer, instigator, Late Latin: schoolmaster, equivalent to Latin indūc ( ere ) ( induce ) + -tor -tor

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.

Temperatures were rising in the power supply cabinets, and pictures taken after the heatup was halted showed blackened inductors in the worst of three cabinets.

From Seattle Times

The power converters the team developed are much smaller than the huge, bulky inductors currently used for this role.

From Science Daily

Temperatures were rising in the power supply cabinets, and pictures taken after the heat up was halted showed blackened inductors in the worst of the three cabinets.

From Seattle Times

Instead of a resonating cavity, DM Radio consists of a radio circuit containing a charge-storing capacitor and a current-storing inductor—a carefully designed coil of wire—both placed in a magnetic field.

From Science Magazine

Two further factories remain out of action, a company spokesperson said, with a fire that broke out at a factory in Tome in Miyagi prefecture that produces chip inductors causing some damage to equipment.

From Reuters