rheostat
1
9.4
- noun
- /ˈriːəʊstæt/
- Specialized
:
reóstato
- Then, as he turns a rheostat, the lights slowly rise, revealing the cell to be almost empty, stripped of its books.
- turns the rheostat
- rheostat controls current
I would argue life is a rheostat.
- I would argue life is a rheostat.
Examples
-
The amount of heat can be controlled by adjusting the rheostat on the device's control panel.
-
Dr. Lecter slowly turns up the rheostat in his cell.
Fiction book (1991) -
I took the rheostat off the engine.
-
The amount of heat can be controlled by adjusting the rheostat on the device's control panel.
Academic text (2008) -
Harry moves to the house lights rheostat and slowly fades them up.
Fiction book (2001) -
The faces around the tent grew brighter as though someone were slowly turning up a hidden rheostat in the smoky teepee.
Fiction book (1993) -
A simple timer built into the light switch with a rotary rheostat to set the delay time is inexpensive and reliable.
Blog text (27) -
She cupped her hand over the rheostat control, thought of how it would be to press it, to add a hint of light to the shadows here.
Fiction book (1995) -
Gordon had a rheostat with which to adjust the lighting in the RV.
-
Each rod in turn operates a small rheostat, which controls the current.
Synonyms
A part that changes the amount of electric current in a circuit
How Adjustable
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
9.4
- Specialized
1
9.6
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
rheostat = rheo + stat
Formed from Greek combining forms ('rheo-' and '-stat') that are not productive or familiar standalone English morphemes for average learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from common English vocabulary.
Etymology
Rheostat comes from Greek parts rheo- meaning 'flow' and -stat meaning 'to stand' or 'stay', the same -stat you see in thermostat. So a rheostat is a device that controls the 'flow' of electric current, letting you make lights or motors brighter or dimmer.