Condenser

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Condenser \Con*dens"er\, n.
     1. One who, or that which, condenses.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Physic)
        (a) An instrument for condensing air or other elastic


            fluids, consisting of a cylinder having a movable
            piston to force the air into a receiver, and a valve
            to prevent its escape.
        (b) An instrument for concentrating electricity by the
            effect of induction between conducting plates
            separated by a nonconducting plate.
        (c) A lens or mirror, usually of short focal distance,
            used to concentrate light upon an object.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Chem.) An apparatus for receiving and condensing the
        volatile products of distillation to a liquid or solid
        form, by cooling.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Steam Engine) An apparatus, separate from the cylinder,
        in which the exhaust steam is condensed by the action of
        cold water or air. See Illust. of {Steam engine}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Achromatic condenser} (Optics), an achromatic lens used as a
        condenser.
  
     {Bull's-eye condenser}, or {Bull's-eye} (Optics), a lens of
        short focal distance used for concentrating rays of light.
        
  
     {Injection condenser}, a vessel in which steam is condensed
        by the direct contact of water.
  
     {Surface condenser}, an apparatus for condensing steam,
        especially the exhaust of a steam engine, by bringing it
        into contact with metallic surface cooled by water or air.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  condenser
       n 1: an electrical device characterized by its capacity to store
            an electric charge [syn: {capacitor}, {capacitance}, {electrical
            condenser}]
       2: an apparatus that converts vapor into liquid
       3: a hollow coil that condenses by abstracting heat
       4: lens used to concentrate light on an object [syn: {optical
          condenser}]