capacitor

noun

ca·​pac·​i·​tor kə-ˈpa-sə-tər 

: a device that is used to store electrical energy

Examples of capacitor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

New water would then be pumped in, which the capacitor would cool during discharge. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 May 2024

Tantalum Top source: China Applications: Manufacturing of electronic components, capacitors, and superalloys 12. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 10 June 2024

The trench capacitors can be made by atomic layer deposition (ALD). —IEEE Spectrum, 14 May 2024

Instead, the capacitor itself moves between the heat source and heat sink. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

capacitor

noun

ca·​pac·​i·​tor kə-ˈpas-ət-ər 

: a device for storing electric charge

called also condenser

Medical Definition

capacitor

noun

ca·​pac·​i·​tor kə-ˈpas-ət-ər 

: a device giving capacitance and usually consisting of conducting plates or foils separated by thin layers of dielectric (as air or mica) with the plates on opposite sides of the dielectric layers oppositely charged by a source of voltage and the electrical energy of the charged system stored in the polarized dielectric