servo

¹ American  

[sur-voh] / ˈsɜr voʊ /

adjective

1. acting as part of a servomechanism.

   servo amplifier.

2. pertaining to or having to do with servomechanisms.

   servo engineer.

3. noting the action of certain mechanisms, as brakes, that are set in operation by other mechanisms but which themselves augment the force of that action by the way in which they operate.

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noun

plural

servos

1. Informal. servomechanism.

verb (used with object)

servoed, servoing

1. to connect (a mechanism) to another as a servomechanism.

servo- ² American  

1. a combining form used in the names of devices or operations that employ a servomechanism.

   servocontrol.

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servo ¹ British  

/ ˈsɜːvəʊ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) of, relating to, forming part of, or activated by a servomechanism

   servo brakes

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noun

1. informal short for servomechanism

servo ² British  

/ ˈsɜːvəʊ /

noun

1. informal a service station

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Etymology

Origin of servo¹

1945–50; independent use of servo-, taken as an adj., or shortening of words formed with it

Origin of servo-²

Extracted from servomotor

Example Sentences

The fluttering servo tab has been linked to multiple DHC-3 crashes.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2022

What goes up must come down — and hard, when dealing with a 95-pound hunk of 3D printed plastics, aluminum, sensors, microprocessors and servo motors catapulted dozens of feet above ground.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2021

A combination of extreme maneuvering, high speed, weight and altitude also can lead to a phenomenon known as servo transparency, he said.

From Washington Times • Dec. 14, 2018

Since the advent of hydraulic or electro servo control systems this has become more and more entrenched.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2018

Half an hour later the big servo came in, picked up his refuel receipt, said good-bye politely and left through the inner airlock.

From The Love of Frank Nineteen by Knight, David Carpenter