varactor

[ vuh-rak-ter ]
/ vəˈræk tər /

noun

a semiconductor diode whose capacitance changes to match applied voltage, used to tune circuits by varying the reactance.

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Origin of varactor

1955–60; var(iable re)actor

Words nearby varactor

vapour trail, vaquero, Vaquez disease, Var, vara, varactor, Varah, Varanasi, Varangian, Vardar, vardenafil hydrochloride
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for varactor

varactor
/ (ˈvɛəˌræktə) /

noun

a semiconductor diode that acts as a voltage-dependent capacitor, being operated with a reverse biasCompare varistor

Word Origin for varactor

C20: probably a blend of variable reactor
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