choking coil
- noun
- Specialized
- Power supplies typically employ a choking coil to smooth the flow of direct current.
Examples
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A choking coil is often used in radio receivers to filter out alternating current signals.
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The engineer added a choking coil to the circuit to reduce unwanted interference.
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The choking coil is essential for this circuit.
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Many devices use a choking coil for better performance.
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A choking coil is used in audio equipment to block high-frequency signals and allow low-frequency signals to pass.
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In electric circuits, a choking coil can prevent alternating current from causing disturbances in the direct current flow.
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To optimize the performance of the system, the technician installed a choking coil to attenuate any AC noise.
Synonyms
A coil in a circuit that blocks alternating current but lets direct current pass
A coil that lets direct current pass but reduces alternating current in a circuit
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound transparently combines 'choke' (to restrict) with 'coil' (a wound wire), so a learner can infer it is a coil that 'chokes' or restricts some kind of current. However, the specific electrical function (allowing DC while attenuating AC) and the technical sense of 'choke' in electronics are specialized and not fully predictable from everyday meanings, making it only partially transparent.
Etymology
Choking coil may come from the simple image of a coil of wire and the idea of choking as 'blocking'. The coil 'chokes' fast, changing electricity but lets steady electricity pass, so today it means 'an electrical coil that reduces changing signals while allowing steady current'.