converter

noun

con·​vert·​er kən-ˈvər-tər How to pronounce converter (audio)
: one that converts: such as
a
: the furnace used in the Bessemer process
b
or convertor : a device employing mechanical rotation for changing electrical energy from one form to another (as from direct current to alternating current or vice versa)
also : a radio device for converting one frequency to another
c
: a device for adapting a television or radio receiver to receive channels or frequencies for which it was not originally designed
a cable converter
FM converter
d
: a device that accepts data in one form and converts it to another
analog-digital converter

Examples of converter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is not a voltage converter and should only be used with dual voltage devices. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 By studying metal prices and reports of converters going missing, including on the Nextdoor social network, Stickle and his coauthors estimate that, for every 10 percent rise in metal prices, there’s a 20 percent uptick in thefts of these devices. Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024 This was followed by postdoc positions working on various aspects of power electronics, including power-quality control, and AC-to-DC and DC-to-DC converters for use in telecommunications products. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Aug. 2023 Unlike the traditional current-source converters, VSCs can regulate their own voltage. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2023 Also, the Apple charger's use of converters, which the imitator forgoes, probably improves efficiency and enables the charger to generate less heat. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 9 Nov. 2023 Pictures from the 150-600mm and 1.4x converter look great at the wide angle but suffer at longer focal lengths. PCMAG, 1 Feb. 2024 After all, the digital-to-analog converter, the headphone amplification, and all the other hardware that goes into delivering a great music player are nothing more than afterthoughts when a company is specifying a smartphone. Simon Lucas, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2023 The computer then sent a 5-volt logic pulse through the D/A converter—which the transistor amplifier magnified and sent to the robot. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'converter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of converter was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near converter

Cite this Entry

“Converter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/converter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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