RHEOSTAT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does rheostat mean? 

• RHEOSTAT (noun)
  The noun RHEOSTAT has 1 sense:

1. resistor for regulating current

  Familiarity information: RHEOSTAT used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RHEOSTAT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Resistor for regulating current

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

rheostat; variable resistor

Hypernyms ("rheostat" is a kind of...):

resistance; resistor (an electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current)

Meronyms (parts of "rheostat"):

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

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rheostat"):

dimmer (a rheostat that varies the current through an electric light in order to control the level of illumination)