insulator

[ in-suh-ley-ter, ins-yuh- ]

noun

1. Electricity.
   1. a material of such low conductivity that the flow of current through it is negligible.
   2. insulating material, often glass or porcelain, in a unit form designed so as to support a charged conductor and electrically isolate it.
2. a person or thing that insulates.

insulator

/ ˈɪnsjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. any material or device that insulates, esp a material with a very low electrical conductivity or thermal conductivity or something made of such a material

insulator

/ ĭn′sə-lā′tər /

1. A material or an object that does not easily allow heat, electricity, light, or sound to pass through it. Air, cloth and rubber are good electrical insulators; feathers and wool make good thermal insulators.
2. Compare conductor

insulator

1. A material that does not easily transmit energy , such as electric current (see also current ) or heat. Materials such as wood, plastic, and ceramics are insulators. Fiberglass is an example of a heat insulator. ( Compare conductor .)

Other Words From

• non·insu·lator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of insulator¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; insulate + -or ²

Example Sentences

Silicon – made from beach sand – is the key material for today’s information technology industry because it is an abundant and versatile semiconductor: it can act as a conductor or an insulator of electrical current, depending on which other chemical elements are added to it.

From Science Daily

Nazir said their research's novelty was in exploring the flame retardancy of insulator materials.

From Science Daily

This geometry enhances the influence of electron-electron interactions, directly leading to the realisation of a Mott insulator.

From Science Daily

"This allowed us to measure an unexpected energy gap -- the hallmark of an insulator."

From Science Daily

Electron population is the on-off switch for controllable Mott insulator to metal phase transitions.

From Science Daily