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Definition of capacitor

capacitor

/kəˈpæs.ɪ.tɚ/
ca · pac · i · tor
Adverb:capacitively
•
Plural:capacitors
•
Adjective:capacitive
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capacitor Lexical Profile

capacitor Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A passive two-terminal electrical component used to store electrical energy temporarily in an electric field, typically consisting of two conducting plates separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric.

Example

"The technician had to replace a blown capacitor on the computer's motherboard to restore power to the system."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for capacitor

• Rhymes for capacitor

• Nearby Words

canvas
canvasback
cap
capacitor
cape
cape buffalo
cape centipede eater

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1920s from the word 'capacity' (referring to its ability to store electrical charge) combined with the suffix '-or' denoting a device. It gradually replaced the older term 'condenser' in electronics.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Capacitor. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/capacitor
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