quartz oscillator
- noun
- /kwɔrts ˈɒsɪleɪtər/
- Specialized
:
oscilador de cuarzo
- The clock in your computer is usually regulated by a quartz oscillator for high accuracy.
Examples
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Engineers tested the quartz oscillator to make sure the circuit maintained a stable frequency.
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Many quartz oscillators are used in watches and clocks.
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A faulty quartz oscillator can cause timing issues in electronic devices.
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The quartz oscillator provides accurate timing for various devices.
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Engineers tested the quartz oscillator to ensure it generated a precise frequency.
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The clock in your computer is typically powered by a quartz oscillator for accurate timekeeping.
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A faulty quartz oscillator can lead to significant timing errors in electronic devices.
Synonyms
10
7.2
A device that makes a regular repeating signal like sound or electric current
An electronic device that makes a very steady electrical signal at one frequency using a small quartz crystal
How Stable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'quartz' names the material/component and 'oscillator' names the device, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is an oscillator that uses quartz vibrations to produce a frequency. This noun+noun technical compound follows regular word-building patterns (material + device) and is cross-linguistically transparent, making it predictable for B1 learners who know the constituents.
Etymology
Quartz oscillator names a device with a small piece of quartz that vibrates like a tiny tuning fork when electricity passes through it and the word oscillator means 'something that makes a regular motion'. These steady vibrations make a 'precise frequency', so electronics use a quartz oscillator to keep accurate time.