conductor

noun con·duc·tor \ kən-ˈdək-tər \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Examples: conductor in a Sentence

Definition of conductor

: one that conducts: such as

a : guide

b : a collector of fares in a public conveyance

a railroad conductor

c : the leader of a musical ensemble

an orchestra conductor

d (1) : a material or object that permits an electric current to flow easily

Copper wire is a good conductor.

— compare insulator, semiconductor

(2) : a material capable of transmitting another form of energy (such as heat or sound)

Aluminum is a conductor of heat.

—

conductorial

play \ˌkän-ˌdək-ˈtȯr-ē-əl, kən-\ adjective

See conductor defined for English-language learners

See conductor defined for kids

Examples of conductor in a Sentence

Metal is a good conductor of electricity.

Recent Examples of conductor from the Web

Don Kendrick, director emeritus of the Sacramento Chamber Music Society, will serve as the master of ceremonies and conductor for both the rehearsal and the main event.

— anthony barcellos, sacbee, "How Big Sing California aims to bring joy to six cities and 10,000 performers," 13 July 2018
The Paul Madore Chorale 2018 SummerSing fund-raiser celebrates female conductors in a series of concerts on Mondays at 8 p.m. at Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Outdoor sculpture, concerts, and pirates," 13 July 2018
And on Monday, the venerable Herbert Blomstedt is joined by young conductors in a program of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms.

— New York Times, "6 Classical Music Concerts to See in N.Y.C. This Weekend," 12 July 2018
For the chorus of the lattermost, Mars was quick to pop out his in-ear monitor, swapping his role as lead vocalist for the role of conductor, and treated the screaming crowd like his choir.

— lyndsey havens, Billboard, "Phoenix Residency at Brooklyn Steel: 5 Best Moments From the Fifth and Final Night," 11 July 2018
Amtrak engineer Michael Kempf, 54, of Savannah, Georgia, and conductor Michael Cella, 36, of Orange Park, Florida, were killed, and 92 others were transported to medical facilities.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "Railroads have improved safety since fatal S.C. collision, Amtrak and CSX officials say," 10 July 2018
Amtrak engineer Michael Kempf, 54, of Savannah, Georgia, and conductor Michael Cella, 36, of Orange Park, Florida, were killed.

— meg kinnard, The Seattle Times, "Investigators grill train company about deadly crash in SC," 10 July 2018
The six-piece band, led by conductor-pianist P. Jason Yarcho, plays vividly.

— lawrence toppman, charlotteobserver, "‘Bright Star,’ a musical tale of NC mountain life, glows steadily and endearingly," 27 June 2018
Finalists were invited to come together for five days in Manhattan to rehearse and study under master conductors in preparation for their performance at Carnegie Hall.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Germantown’s Elise Dahlby selected for Carnegie Hall Honors Performance Series," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conductor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of conductor

see ²conduct

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

CONDUCTOR Defined for English Language Learners

conductor

noun

Definition of conductor for English Language Learners

: a person who stands in front of people while they sing or play musical instruments and directs their performance
: a person who collects money or tickets from passengers on a train or bus
: a material or object that allows electricity or heat to move through it