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rectifier

American  
[rek-tuh-fahy-er] / ˈrɛk təˌfaɪ ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that rectifies.

  2. Electricity. an apparatus in which current flows more readily in one direction than the other, for changing an alternating current into a direct current.

  3. the apparatus that in distillation separates the most volatile material by condensing it; condenser.


rectifier British  
/ ˈrɛktɪˌfaɪə /

noun

  1. an electronic device, such as a semiconductor diode or valve, that converts an alternating current to a direct current by suppression or inversion of alternate half cycles

  2. chem an apparatus for condensing a hot vapour to a liquid in distillation; condenser

  3. a thing or person that rectifies

"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

rectifier Scientific  
/ rĕktə-fī′ər /
  1. An electrical device that converts alternating current to direct current. Rectifiers are most often made of a combination of diodes, which allow current to pass in one direction only.

  2. Compare converter transformer


Etymology

Origin of rectifier

First recorded in 1605–15; rectify + -er 1

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.

Autumn, who has been working on a machine that resembles a large lathe — a ringer, which generates telephone rings — passes De Jaen and the rectifier.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2024

About an hour later, De Jaen and the rectifier have attracted a small crowd of volunteers, all eager to see whether the thing will ignite.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2024

This is then converted into direct current by a rectifier, and is used to top up the vehicle’s battery.

From Economist • Oct. 26, 2017

In 1912 he built a cosmic aerial, a cosmic booster box and a small cosmic rectifier.

From Time Magazine Archive

My brother said its possible if you have an antenna and a rectifier and something to seme as a speaker.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr