universal motor

American  

noun

1. a series-wound motor, of one-half horsepower or less, using alternating or direct current.

---

universal motor British  

noun

1. an electric motor capable of working on either direct current or single-phase alternating current at approximately the same speed and output

---

Etymology

Origin of universal motor

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Researchers have used laser-powered 'optical tweezers' to reveal a universal motor mechanism used by viruses for packaging their DNA into infectious particles.

From Science Daily

This is the universal motor, which philosophy is searching for, which religion strengthens, which egotism supplants, and whose place pure reason never can fill.

From Project Gutenberg

According to his theory, he is himself the sole representative and delegate of the people, invested with full powers, not alone in the State, but again in the department and commune, the prime and the universal motor of the entire machine, not merely at the center, but again at the extremities, dispenser of all public employments, not merely to suggest the candidate for these and make him titular, but again to create directly and at once, both titular and candidate.

From Project Gutenberg