Specialist dictionary

Electrical engineering

Electricity, electronics, control and power systems.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Amplificationnoun

(electronics) the act of increasing voltage or power or current

Basenoun

(electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector

Characteristic curvenoun

(electronics) graph showing how a particular characteristic of a device varies with other parameters

Characteristic functionnoun

(electronics) graph showing how a particular characteristic of a device varies with other parameters

Clippernoun

(electronics) a nonlinear electronic circuit whose output is limited in amplitude; used to limit the instantaneous amplitude of a waveform (to c…

Contactnoun

(electronics) a junction where things (as two electrical conductors) touch or are in physical contact; "they forget to solder the contacts"

Demodulationnoun

(electronics) the reception of a signal by extracting it from the carrier wave

Electronic networknoun

(electronics) a system of interconnected electronic components or circuits

Faultnoun

(electronics) equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit (loose connection or insulation failure or short circuit etc.); "it too…

Frequency responsenoun

(electronics) a curve representing the output-to-input ratio of a transducer as a function of frequency

Frequency-response characteristicnoun

(electronics) a graph of frequency response with signal amplitude or gain plotted against frequency

Frequency-response curvenoun

(electronics) a graph of frequency response with signal amplitude or gain plotted against frequency

Growingnoun

(electronics) the production of (semiconductor) crystals by slow crystallization from the molten state

Impulsenoun

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients); "the pulsations seemed to be coming from a…

Limiternoun

(electronics) a nonlinear electronic circuit whose output is limited in amplitude; used to limit the instantaneous amplitude of a waveform (to c…

Modulationnoun

(electronics) the transmission of a signal by using it to vary a carrier wave; changing the carrier's amplitude or frequency or phase

Networknoun

(electronics) a system of interconnected electronic components or circuits

Pulsationnoun

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients); "the pulsations seemed to be coming from a…

Pulsenoun

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients); "the pulsations seemed to be coming from a…

Pulsingnoun

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients); "the pulsations seemed to be coming from a…

Redundancynoun

(electronics) a system design that duplicates components to provide alternatives in case one component fails

Repeaternoun

(electronics) electronic device that amplifies a signal before transmitting it again; "repeaters can be used in computer networks to extend cabl…

Ripplenoun

(electronics) an oscillation of small amplitude imposed on top of a steady value

Seriesnoun

(electronics) connection of components in such a manner that current flows first through one and then through the other; "the voltage divider co…

Tangencynoun

(electronics) a junction where things (as two electrical conductors) touch or are in physical contact; "they forget to solder the contacts"

Time constantnoun

(electronics) the time required for the current or voltage in a circuit to rise or fall exponentially through approximately 63 per cent of its a…

Amplifiernoun

electronic equipment that increases strength of signals passing through it

control systemnoun

a system for controlling the operation of another system

Electric resistancenoun

a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms

Electrical resistancenoun

a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms

impedancenoun

a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms

Ohmic resistancenoun

a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms

Resistancenoun

a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms

Resistivitynoun

a material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms

Circuitnoun

an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow

Crystal rectifiernoun

a semiconductor that consists of a p-n junction

Currentnoun

a flow of electricity through a conductor; "the current was measured in amperes"

Diodenoun

a semiconductor that consists of a p-n junction

Electric circuitnoun

an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow

Electric currentnoun

a flow of electricity through a conductor; "the current was measured in amperes"

Electrical circuitnoun

an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow

Electrical energynoun

energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity"; "The power went out aroun…

Electricitynoun

energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity"; "The power went out aroun…

Inductancenoun

an electrical phenomenon whereby an electromotive force (EMF) is generated in a closed circuit by a change in the flow of current

Inductionnoun

an electrical phenomenon whereby an electromotive force (EMF) is generated in a closed circuit by a change in the flow of current

Junction rectifiernoun

a semiconductor that consists of a p-n junction

Powernoun

energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity"; "The power went out aroun…

Semiconducting materialnoun

a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity inc…

Semiconductornoun

a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity inc…

Semiconductor diodenoun

a semiconductor that consists of a p-n junction

Signalnoun

an electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comes

Actuatornoun

A component that makes a machine move or act.

Sensornoun

A device that measures a condition such as temperature, pressure or motion.

Amnoun

modulation of the amplitude of the (radio) carrier wave

Amplitude modulationnoun

modulation of the amplitude of the (radio) carrier wave

Breaker pointnoun

a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts them and current flows to the spark plugs

Computer networknoun

(computer science) a network of computers

Contact armnoun

contact consisting of a conducting arm that rotates over a series of fixed contacts and comes to rest on an outlet

Distributor pointnoun

a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts them and current flows to the spark plugs

Early warning systemnoun

a network of radar installations designed to detect enemy missiles or aircraft while there is still time to intercept them

Electrical contactnoun

contact that allows current to pass from one conductor to another

Epitaxynoun

growing a crystal layer of one mineral on the crystal base of another mineral in such a manner that its crystalline orientation is the same as t…

FMnoun

modulation of the frequency of the (radio) carrier wave

Frequency modulationnoun

modulation of the frequency of the (radio) carrier wave

Information superhighwaynoun

an extensive electronic network (such as the internet) used for the rapid transfer of sound and video and graphics in digital form

P-n junctionnoun

the junction between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor; "a p-n junction has marked rectifying characteristics"

Phase modulationnoun

modulation of the phase of the carrier wave

PMnoun

modulation of the phase of the carrier wave

Pointnoun

a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts them and current flows to the spark plugs

Polenoun

a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves

Pulse modulationnoun

modulation that imposes a signal on a train of pulses

Relaxation timenoun

the time constant of an exponential return of a system to equilibrium after a disturbance

Shortnoun

accidental contact between two points in an electric circuit that have a potential difference

Short circuitnoun

accidental contact between two points in an electric circuit that have a potential difference

Sound bownoun

contact (the part of a bell) against which the clapper strikes

Superhighwaynoun

an extensive electronic network (such as the internet) used for the rapid transfer of sound and video and graphics in digital form

Terminalnoun

a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves

Treadnoun

the part (as of a wheel or shoe) that makes contact with the ground

Wipernoun

contact consisting of a conducting arm that rotates over a series of fixed contacts and comes to rest on an outlet

Wiper armnoun

contact consisting of a conducting arm that rotates over a series of fixed contacts and comes to rest on an outlet

Audio amplifiernoun

an amplifier that increases the amplitude of reproduced sound

Boosternoun

an amplifier for restoring the strength of a transmitted signal

Booster amplifiernoun

an amplifier for restoring the strength of a transmitted signal

Booster stationnoun

an amplifier for restoring the strength of a transmitted signal

Closed loopnoun

a control system with a feedback loop that is active

Closed-loop systemnoun

a control system with a feedback loop that is active

Masernoun

an acronym for microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; an amplifier that works on the same principle as a laser and emits c…

Ohmagenoun

the ohmic resistance of a conductor

Relay linknoun

an amplifier for restoring the strength of a transmitted signal

Relay stationnoun

an amplifier for restoring the strength of a transmitted signal

Relay transmitternoun

an amplifier for restoring the strength of a transmitted signal

Servonoun

control system that converts a small mechanical motion into one requiring much greater power; may include a negative feedback system

Servomechanismnoun

control system that converts a small mechanical motion into one requiring much greater power; may include a negative feedback system

Servosystemnoun

control system that converts a small mechanical motion into one requiring much greater power; may include a negative feedback system

ACnoun

an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally; "In the US most household current is AC at 60 cycles per second"

Alternating currentnoun

an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally; "In the US most household current is AC at 60 cycles per second"

Alternating electric currentnoun

an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally; "In the US most household current is AC at 60 cycles per second"

Bridgenoun

a circuit consisting of two branches (4 arms arranged in a diamond configuration) across which a meter is connected

DCnoun

an electric current that flows in one direction steadily

Direct currentnoun

an electric current that flows in one direction steadily

Direct electric currentnoun

an electric current that flows in one direction steadily

feedback loopnoun

a circuit that feeds back some of the output to the input of a system

Flip-flopnoun

an electronic circuit that can assume either of two stable states

Germaniumnoun

a brittle grey crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors; occurs in germanite and argyrodi…

Interruptnoun

a signal that temporarily stops the execution of a program so that another procedure can be carried out

Juicenoun

electric current; "when the wiring was finished they turned on the juice"

Lednoun

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

Linknoun

an interconnecting circuit between two or more locations for the purpose of transmitting and receiving data

Loopnoun

a complete electrical circuit around which current flows or a signal circulates

Resonatornoun

an electrical circuit that combines capacitance and inductance in such a way that a periodic electric oscillation will reach maximum amplitude

Sinoun

a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite…

Siliconnoun

a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite…

Squelchnoun

an electric circuit that cuts off a receiver when the signal becomes weaker than the noise

Thermionic currentnoun

an electric current produced between two electrodes as a result of electrons emitted by thermionic emission

Wiringnoun

a circuit of wires for the distribution of electricity

Anodenoun

the negatively charged terminal of a voltaic cell or storage battery that supplies current

Bus networknoun

a network topology in which nodes are connected in a daisy chain by a linear sequence of buses.; "In a bus network, every station receives all n…

Cyberspacenoun

a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission…

Intelnetnoun

a computer network similar to but separate from the internet; devoted to the dissemination of information to and for the Intelligence Community

Internetnoun

a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission…