rheostat
an adjustable resistor so constructed that its resistance may be changed without opening the circuit in which it is connected, thereby controlling the current in the circuit.
Origin of rheostat
1Other words from rheostat
- rhe·o·stat·ic, adjective
Words Nearby rheostat
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use rheostat in a sentence
The binding post E of the rheostat is connected to the base binding post J.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousThis can, however, be accomplished by means of a small rheostat placed in series with the motor.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousThe rheostat acts in an electrical circuit in just the same way a valve does in a hydraulic circuit.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousA very simple and inexpensive rheostat may be constructed as follows: Procure a piece of thin fiber, about 1/16 in.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousThat gives you your direction, and the rheostat here at the belt changes the velocity.
Islands of Space | John W Campbell
British Dictionary definitions for rheostat
/ (ˈriːəˌstæt) /
a variable resistance, usually consisting of a coil of wire with a terminal at one end and a sliding contact that moves along the coil to tap off the current
Derived forms of rheostat
- rheostatic, adjective
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
Scientific definitions for rheostat
[ rē′ə-stăt′ ]
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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