stator

noun sta·tor \ ˈstā-tər \

|Updated on: 6 May 2018

Definition of stator

: a stationary part in a machine in or about which a rotor revolves

Recent Examples of stator from the Web

Electric motors, whether AC or DC, work by causing a magnetic field in the rotating part (rotor) to interact with a magnetic field in the stationary part (stator) of the machine.

— The Economist, "Do electric cars dream of software fixes?," 22 Apr. 2018
When wire windings in the stator are electrified, the magnetic attraction causes the rotor to rotate.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "Toyota’s new magnet won’t depend on some key rare-earth minerals," 28 Feb. 2018
Whatever the mechanism, all electric motors, whether their input current is AC or DC, require an alternating current in their stator windings to make their rotors spin.

— The Economist, "Do electric cars dream of software fixes?," 22 Apr. 2018
By contrast, induction motors (which are much more common) use no magnets and rely on current flowing through the stator windings to induce a magnetic field, which leads to the rotation of the rotor.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "Toyota’s new magnet won’t depend on some key rare-earth minerals," 28 Feb. 2018
Several such coils form the rotor, which is the part of the motor that turns, and which sits inside the stator, which does not.

— The Economist, "Let’s twist againAs electric motors improve, more things are being electrified," 14 Sep. 2017
That turns them into an electromagnet, generating a magnetic field which pushes against an existing field generated by a second set of permanent magnets inside the stator.

— The Economist, "Let’s twist againAs electric motors improve, more things are being electrified," 14 Sep. 2017
A stationary stator holds the machine in place while a moving rotor spins and drills across the cell membrane.

— ryan cross, Science | AAAS, "Nanomachines drill holes into cancer cells," 30 Aug. 2017

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