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

Chris Goldfinger, an Oregon State University marine geologist and lead author of the new paper, compares the process to tuning an analog radio, in which the device’s oscillators are synced up to convert incoming signals. —Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025

But by moving beyond its oscillator and clock heritage, SiTime is positioning itself as a one-stop shop for timing components. —Dave Altavilla, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Where atomic clocks measure time by tracking electrons shifting between quantum states excited by a microwave oscillator, nuclear clocks turn inward, measuring transitions within the nucleus itself. —New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025

Comb of many colors At the core of the breakthrough is an optical parametric oscillator (OPO), a resonator that converts incoming laser light into new frequencies using a nonlinear crystal. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 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