superconductor
noun
su·per·con·duc·tor
ˌsü-pər-kən-ˈdək-tər 
plural superconductors
: a substance that exhibits no electrical resistance : a substance exhibiting superconductivity
Add a layer of aluminum oxide to a crystal made of neatly stacked soccer-ball shaped carbon molecules known as buckyballs, and the result is a superconductor that effortlessly carries electricity at relatively warm temperatures.—
Kenneth Chang
Kenneth Chang
Examples of superconductor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Two weeks later, follow-up preprint papers from more prominent superconductor laboratories have found that LK-99 isn’t a superconductor after all, and is actually a less efficient conductor than copper at room temperature.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Chang stressed that the levitation observed does not necessarily mean that the material is a superconductor—there are many materials that exhibit strong diamagnetism, which could be hard to distinguish from perfect diamagnetism, that are not superconductors, such as bismuth and graphite.
—Will Henshall, Time, 3 Aug. 2023
Many scientists were skeptical, however, because an earlier superconductor paper by Dr. Dias and his colleagues, also published in Nature, had already been retracted.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 26 July 2023
The discovery in 2015 that hydrogen sulfide is a superconductor was consistent with computer simulations conducted the year before.
—Davide Castelvecchi, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 2023
Crucially, when this happens, the resistance along the length of the material drops to zero, and the electrons travel around the edges without losing any energy, achieving an effect similar to that of a superconductor.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2023
Richard Greene, a physicist studying superconductors at the University of Maryland, generally agrees.
—Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2023
The discovery of a demon is particularly important for understanding superconductors.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023
Griffin found that inserting copper atoms into lead apatite caused the material’s atoms to rearrange in an unexpected way that resembles existing superconductors.
—Reuters, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2023
See More
Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Chang stressed that the levitation observed does not necessarily mean that the material is a superconductor—there are many materials that exhibit strong diamagnetism, which could be hard to distinguish from perfect diamagnetism, that are not superconductors, such as bismuth and graphite.
—Will Henshall, Time, 3 Aug. 2023
Many scientists were skeptical, however, because an earlier superconductor paper by Dr. Dias and his colleagues, also published in Nature, had already been retracted.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 26 July 2023
The discovery in 2015 that hydrogen sulfide is a superconductor was consistent with computer simulations conducted the year before.
—Davide Castelvecchi, Scientific American, 17 Nov. 2023
Crucially, when this happens, the resistance along the length of the material drops to zero, and the electrons travel around the edges without losing any energy, achieving an effect similar to that of a superconductor.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2023
Richard Greene, a physicist studying superconductors at the University of Maryland, generally agrees.
—Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2023
The discovery of a demon is particularly important for understanding superconductors.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023
Griffin found that inserting copper atoms into lead apatite caused the material’s atoms to rearrange in an unexpected way that resembles existing superconductors.
—Reuters, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superconductor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1913, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near superconductor
Cite this Entry
“Superconductor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superconductor. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share