electrical relay
1
4.5
- noun
- /ɪˈlɛktrɪkəl ˈriːleɪ/
- Specialized
:
relé eléctrico
- An electrical relay can control high voltage devices using a low voltage signal.
Examples
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The technician replaced the faulty electrical relay to ensure the system functioned properly.
-
The electrical relay connections and the link to the LDR are shown in Figure 3.
Academic text (1992) -
She's been fitted with electrical relays that allow you to... -
-
Suddenly, on the bomb, there is a metallic CLATTER as a series of electrical relays open and close, the lights on the testing unit flashing in series...
Fiction book (1996) -
When the sensor detects movement, the electrical relay activates the alarm system.
Synonyms
80
5.7
A device that uses one electric current to switch another on or off
A device that stays on or off after being switched, even when control power is removed
An electrical switch that stays in the same position when power is removed
A small electric switch that changes when you press a button and stays that way until pressed again
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'electrical' (pertaining to electricity) modifying 'relay' (a switch activated by one circuit to control another). This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase following normal English modification patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it even if the device is somewhat technical.
Etymology
Electrical relay comes from the idea of a relay like a 'relay race', where one runner passes a baton to the next. An electrical relay uses a small electric current to 'pass' a switch action to a different circuit, so one circuit can turn another on or off.