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

However, a new study presents the first exact solution to a damped quantum harmonic oscillator, a system that slowly loses energy. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025

There is a new upturn in the weekly stochastic oscillator from oversold levels, which tends to be a bullish intermediate-term development. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 21 July 2025

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

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