insulator

American  

[in-suh-ley-ter, ins-yuh-] / ˈɪn səˌleɪ tər, ˈɪns yə- /

noun

1. Electricity.

   1. a material of such low conductivity that the flow of current through it is negligible.

   2. insulating material, often glass or porcelain, in a unit form designed so as to support a charged conductor and electrically isolate it.

2. a person or thing that insulates.

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insulator British  

/ ˈɪnsjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. any material or device that insulates, esp a material with a very low electrical conductivity or thermal conductivity or something made of such a material

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insulator Scientific  

/ ĭn′sə-lā′tər /

1. A material or an object that does not easily allow heat, electricity, light, or sound to pass through it. Air, cloth and rubber are good electrical insulators; feathers and wool make good thermal insulators.

2. Compare conductor

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insulator Cultural  

1. A material that does not easily transmit energy, such as electric current (see also current) or heat. Materials such as wood, plastic, and ceramics are insulators. Fiberglass is an example of a heat insulator. (Compare conductor.)

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Other Word Forms

• noninsulator noun

Etymology

Origin of insulator

First recorded in 1795–1805; insulate + -or ²

Example Sentences

This could transform it from a conducting metal into an insulator, preventing ordinary electrons from interfering with the Majoranas used as qubits.

From Science Daily

"Finding insulators that are transparent is really challenging."

From Science Daily

A typical double-hung window—even a double-glazed one—is so leaky, and such a poor insulator, that if your home were a bucket, your windows are effectively holes in it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Instead of acting like a metal, it behaves as an insulator.

From Science Daily

In recent years, however, researchers have discovered the same quantum oscillations in insulators -- materials that should not conduct electricity or heat.

From Science Daily