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Glite Dictionary
step-up transformer

step-up transformer

1 4.8
A device that raises the voltage of electric current that changes direction
  • noun
  • /ˈstɛp ʌp trænˈsfɔrmər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : transformador elevador
  • The step-up transformer increased the voltage from 120 volts to 240 volts for the machinery.

Examples

  • "Now a step-up transformer falls into the TANSTAAFL..."

    Blog text (5)

  • Engineers use a step-up transformer to boost the voltage for efficient power transmission.

  • In our electrical project, we needed a step-up transformer to elevate the current for higher performance.

Surface Forms

step-up transformer singular
step-up transformers plural

Morphology

step-up + transformer

The meaning 'a transformer that increases voltage' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'step-up' conveys an increase or upward change and 'transformer' is a device that changes voltage, so the compound simply describes its function. This adjective–noun compounding is a productive and cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Step-up transformer is named from its parts: a transformer is a device that changes electricity and step-up means to move something to a higher level. Think of a staircase lifting the current to a higher 'voltage', so the term means a device that 'raises the voltage'.