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
Engineers can do that by reducing the accelerator’s energy loss with the judicious application of superconductors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Sep. 2023
For the past two weeks, superconductor labs around the world have rushed to create LK-99, a new material that South Korean scientists claimed was a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
But physicists urged caution: Previous claims of room-temperature superconductors haven’t panned out.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2023
The eventual success of fusion might very well depend on the effectiveness of these higher-temperature superconductors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2023
Because this demon likely exists at room temperatures, this discovery could help scientists better understand high-temperature superconductors.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023
As a result, this material should be accessible to a lot more labs than could work on hydrogen-rich superconductors previously.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 8 Mar. 2023
Business Column: Scientists are paying a huge personal price in the lonely fight against anti-vaxxers
Oct. 20, 2023
Additionally, observes Scientific American, superconductors repel magnetic fields, which could lead to more efficient magnetic levitation, or maglev, trains.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023
There are other superconductors used today in quantum computers and MRI machines.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 10 Aug. 2023
IEEE Spectrum, 26 Sep. 2023
For the past two weeks, superconductor labs around the world have rushed to create LK-99, a new material that South Korean scientists claimed was a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
But physicists urged caution: Previous claims of room-temperature superconductors haven’t panned out.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2023
The eventual success of fusion might very well depend on the effectiveness of these higher-temperature superconductors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2023
Because this demon likely exists at room temperatures, this discovery could help scientists better understand high-temperature superconductors.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023
As a result, this material should be accessible to a lot more labs than could work on hydrogen-rich superconductors previously.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 8 Mar. 2023
Business Column: Scientists are paying a huge personal price in the lonely fight against anti-vaxxers
Oct. 20, 2023
Additionally, observes Scientific American, superconductors repel magnetic fields, which could lead to more efficient magnetic levitation, or maglev, trains.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023
There are other superconductors used today in quantum computers and MRI machines.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 10 Aug. 2023
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 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share