oscillator

noun

os·​cil·​la·​tor ˈä-sə-ˌlā-tər 

1

: one that oscillates

2

: a device for producing alternating current

especially : a radio-frequency or audio-frequency generator

Examples of oscillator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The earliest clocks to use mechanical oscillators were pendulum clocks, based on observations recorded by Galileo. —Markus Lutz, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

At the same time, overbought conditions are not yet in place per the weekly stochastic oscillator, suggesting that the rally in WTI crude oil prices may have staying power for several more weeks. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 16 June 2025

The single qubit in their system reads and organizes information in the oscillators but doesn’t perform the actual computation, as qubits do in other quantum computers. —Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 9 June 2025

The bot is then hooked up to a device known as a pneumatic ring oscillator, which delivers a pulsating 2.25-bar (32.6-psi) air current into channels within the robot's body. —Ben Coxworth may 28, New Atlas, 28 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oscillator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

oscillator

noun

os·​cil·​la·​tor ˈäs-ə-ˌlāt-ər 

1

: one that oscillates

2

: a device for producing alternating current

especially : a radio-frequency or audio-frequency generator

Medical Definition

oscillator

noun

os·​cil·​la·​tor ˈäs-ə-ˌlāt-ər 

: a device or mechanism for producing or controlling oscillations

especially : one (as a radio-frequency generator) for producing an alternating current