accumulator

[ uh-kyoo-myuh-ley-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that accumulates.
2. a register or electric device on an arithmetic machine, as an adding machine, cash register, or digital computer, that receives a number and produces and stores the results of arithmetic operations of the given number with other numbers.
3. British. a storage battery or storage cell.
4. an apparatus that stores fluid at approximately the working pressure of the hydraulic or pneumatic system in which it will be employed, so that a supply of fluid is always immediately available to the system.
5. Machinery. (in a boiler) a vessel for storing hot fluid, ready to flash into steam.
6. Hydraulics. a vessel in which air is trapped and compressed by the liquid, thus storing energy to supply liquid under pressure when the demand of the system is greater than the capacity of the pump.

accumulator

/ əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. Also calledbatterystorage battery a rechargeable device for storing electrical energy in the form of chemical energy, consisting of one or more separate secondary cells
2. horse racing a collective bet, esp on four or more races, in which the stake and winnings on each successive race are carried forward to become the stake on the next, so that both stakes and winnings accumulate progressively so long as the bet continues to be a winning one
3. 1. a register in a computer or calculator used for holding the results of a computation or data transfer
   2. a location in a computer store in which arithmetical results are produced

Word History and Origins

Origin of accumulator¹

1685–95; < Latin accumulātor, equivalent to accumulā ( re ) to heap up ( accumulate ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

The bridge is worked by hydraulic power, an accumulator with a load of 34 tons supplying pressure water at 630 lb per sq. in.

From Project Gutenberg

Fig. 176 shows a diagrammatic way the scheme of a system of accumulator machinery.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes an accumulator is loaded by water or steam pressure instead of by a dead weight.

From Project Gutenberg

At R is one of the pressure engines or jiggers, worked from the accumulator, discharging the water after use into the tank T.

From Project Gutenberg

When a very great pressure is required a differential accumulator (fig. 177) is convenient.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• connoisseur
• hobbyist