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potentiometer

[ puh-ten-shee-om-i-ter ]

noun

, Electricity.
  1. a device for measuring electromotive force or potential difference by comparison with a known voltage.


potentiometer

/ pəˌtɛnʃɪˈɒmɪtə /

noun

  1. an instrument for determining a potential difference or electromotive force by measuring the fraction of it that balances a standard electromotive force
  2. a device with three terminals, two of which are connected to a resistance wire and the third to a brush moving along the wire, so that a variable potential can be tapped off: used in electronic circuits, esp as a volume control
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

potentiometer

/ pə-tĕn′shē-ŏmĭ-tər /

  1. A mechanical variable resistor.
  2. See more at resistor
  3. An instrument for measuring an unknown voltage by comparison with a known voltage, such as that of a generator.
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Derived Forms

  • poˌtentiˈometry, noun
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Other Words From

  • po·ten·ti·o·met·ric [p, uh, -ten-shee-, uh, -, me, -trik], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of potentiometer1

1880–85; potenti(al) + -o- + -meter
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Example Sentences

Within the packages I found diodes, capacitors, a potentiometer, and more: all the final parts I needed to complete my teleporter.

Adjust the potentiometer to the lowest percentage at which it will still grind.

Arranged in a large hall at the back of the private, nonprofit museum were 46 tables covered with resistors, potentiometers, capacitors, wires, wire nuts, wire markers, vacuum tubes and VU meters.

In each hand, eight linear potentiometers act as displacement sensors, and 16 pressure sensors provide feedback about the positions, angles, and forces of fingers.

From Forbes

"Sixteen NiCad batteries," Sasson says, pointing to the Nickel Cadmium batteries through a mess of exposed wires and nubby tabs called potentiometers.

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