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Glite Dictionary
distributor point

distributor point

8.6
A metal contact in a car's ignition that the rotor arm touches to send electricity to the spark plugs
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : punto de distribuidor
  • Older vehicles often require periodic adjustment of the distributor point gap.

Examples

  • A worn distributor point can cause the engine to misfire or run poorly.

  • The mechanic inspected the distributor point when diagnosing the ignition problem.

  • The distributor point connects the ignition system to the spark plugs.

  • Each distributor point must be checked for wear and tear.

  • A worn distributor point can cause the engine to misfire or run poorly.

  • The mechanic inspected the distributor point when diagnosing the ignition problem.

  • Older vehicles often require periodic adjustment of the distributor point gap.

Synonyms

breaker point
vsdistributor point
  • Archaic
8.8

A small metal part in older car engines that opens and closes to send electricity to the spark plugs

is touched by a rotor arm to let current flow to spark plugs

Surface Forms

distributor point singular
distributor points plural

Morphology

distributor + point

The compound is compositionally built: a 'point' (a specific position/contact) located in the 'distributor' (the ignition component), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a specific place in the distributor involved in ignition. Although the full technical detail (an electrical contact touched by the rotor) is specialized, the general referent — a point in the distributor — is directly derivable from the constituents and thus accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Distributor point is a small metal 'point' inside the distributor of older cars that a spinning rotor arm touches to send an electric 'spark' to each spark plug. That's why a worn distributor point can stop the 'spark' and make the engine misfire.