potentiometer
Americannoun
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a device for measuring electromotive force or potential difference by comparison with a known voltage.
noun
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an instrument for determining a potential difference or electromotive force by measuring the fraction of it that balances a standard electromotive force
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a device with three terminals, two of which are connected to a resistance wire and the third to a brush moving along the wire, so that a variable potential can be tapped off: used in electronic circuits, esp as a volume control
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A mechanical variable resistor.
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See more at resistor
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An instrument for measuring an unknown voltage by comparison with a known voltage, such as that of a generator.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of potentiometer
1880–85; potenti(al) + -o- + -meter
Vocabulary lists containing potentiometer
Electrical Engineering
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Engineering - High School
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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.
One such device, for determining voltage, is a potentiometer.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
Within the packages I found diodes, capacitors, a potentiometer, and more: all the final parts I needed to complete my teleporter.
From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
Its Fundamental Principle.—The potentiometer is the electrical equivalent of the chemical balance, or balance arm scales.
From The Working of Steel Annealing, Heat Treating and Hardening of Carbon and Alloy Steel by Colvin, Fred H. (Fred Herbert)
Don't expect to get the best results with a gas-content detector tube without using a potentiometer.
From The Radio Amateur's Hand Book by Collins, A. Frederick (Archie Frederick)
In using either of these heterodyne receivers be sure to carefully adjust the B battery by means of the potentiometer.
From The Radio Amateur's Hand Book by Collins, A. Frederick (Archie Frederick)
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.
