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Glite Dictionary
OR circuit

OR circuit

1 3.6
A circuit that turns its output on when any input is on
  • noun
  • /ɔr ˈsɜrkɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : circuito OR
  • In digital electronics, an OR circuit is essential for combining multiple inputs into a single output.

Examples

  • To add logic operations in your project, you can use an OR circuit to ensure the system responds whenever any input is triggered.

  • Such a device or circuit is called a "microphone preamplifier," and its task is simply to boost the microphone's small electrical signal.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The OR circuit will output a signal if at least one of its inputs is activated.

Synonyms

OR gate
vsOR circuit
  • Specialized
4.3

An electronic circuit that gives an output when any input is on

is the electronics term that highlights physical implementation not just abstract logic

Surface Forms

OR circuit singular
OR circuits plural

Morphology

OR + circuit

The meaning is directly built from 'or' (the logical/alternative connective) and 'circuit' (an electrical route or device), so a learner who understands 'or' as 'either/or' and 'circuit' as an electrical system can infer this is a circuit implementing the OR operation. The composition follows straightforward logic-domain naming (e.g., OR gate), making the expression transparent rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

OR circuit comes from the simple idea OR: imagine a lamp that lights if any one of several switches is pressed. That's why an OR circuit gives a 'positive' output when any input is 'on'.