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Definition of rheostat

rheostat

/ˈriː.ə.stæt/
rhe · o · stat
Plural:rheostats
•
Adjective:rheostatic
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rheostat Lexical Profile

rheostat Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An electrical instrument used to control a current by varying the resistance, typically consisting of a resistive coil with a sliding contact.

Example

"The lighting technician adjusted the rheostat to slowly dim the stage lights during the final scene."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for rheostat

• Nearby Words

rhaphiolepis
rhea
rhebok
rheostat
rhesus macaque
rheum
rhexia

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1843 by English scientist Sir Charles Wheatstone from the Greek 'rheos' (stream, current) and 'statos' (standing, stationary).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rheostat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rheostat
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