lightning conductor

4.2

A metal rod or wire on top of a building that carries lightning into the ground to prevent damage

noun
/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ kənˈdʌk.tər/

: pararrayos

The skyscraper was equipped with a lightning conductor to ensure safety during thunderstorms.

Examples

In case of a storm, the lightning conductor will redirect the electrical charge safely into the ground.
Lightning damage to buildings and property is something that architects and plant owners have been able to reduce significantly by the use of lightning conductors, but electronic systems are often installed with little thought to damage through lightning-induced transients.

Academic text (1996)
They installed a lightning conductor on the roof to protect the building from lightning strikes.

Synonyms

lightning rod

vslightning conductor

5 3.9

A metal rod on top of a building that directs lightning into the ground

has the same function and form but is used as an alternative common name

How Protective

grounding

Specialized

4 4.0

lightning conductor

4.2

lightning arrester

Specialized

6.1

surge protector

Specialized

2 3.2

insulator

Specialized

5 4.7

Surface Forms

lightning conductor singular

lightning conductors plural

Morphology

lightning + conductor

The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'lightning' (electrical discharge) and 'conductor' (something that permits passage of electricity), so a B1 learner can infer it is a device that conducts lightning to the ground to protect a building. This noun–noun composition follows standard, cross-linguistically common compounding patterns and is therefore immediately comprehensible to learners who know both words.

Etymology

The noun lightning conductor comes from a simple picture: a metal rod fixed to the top of a building that meets lightning, and the word conductor means it 'conducts' the electricity safely into the ground, so the building is 'protected' from fire or damage.