trimming capacitor

7.3

A small adjustable electronic part used to make fine changes in an electrical circuit

noun
/ˈtrɪmɪŋ kəˈpæsɪtər/

Specialized

: capacitor de ajuste

The technician adjusted the trimming capacitor to fine-tune the receiver's frequency response.

Examples

A faulty trimming capacitor can cause instability in sensitive electronic circuits.
The trimming capacitor allows for precise tuning.
To achieve the correct oscillation, engineers often rely on a trimming capacitor.
Engineers often use a trimming capacitor for adjustments.
The technician adjusted the trimming capacitor to fine-tune the receiver's frequency response.
To achieve the correct oscillation, engineers often rely on a trimming capacitor.
A faulty trimming capacitor can cause instability in sensitive electronic circuits.

Synonyms

trimmer

vstrimming capacitor

Specialized

7.4

A small electrical part used to make fine adjustments in electronic devices

is the full technical phrase rather than the shorter name

Surface Forms

trimming capacitor singular

trimming capacitors plural

Morphology

trim + capacitor

The meaning is directly compositional: 'trim' (to make fine adjustments) modifies 'capacitor' (an electrical charge-storing component), so a 'trimming capacitor' is plainly a capacitor used for trimming/tuning. This follows a common modifier+noun pattern familiar across languages and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words, even if the term is technical.

Etymology

The noun trimming capacitor comes from the idea of trimming, like cutting a little off a haircut or a plant, and capacitor, an electronic part. So a trimming capacitor is a very small adjustable capacitor you turn to 'trim' a circuit, meaning to make tiny changes until it works just right.