Rheostat

2 definitions found

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

  Rheostat \Rhe"o*stat\ (r[=e]"[-o]*st[a^]t), n. [Gr. "rei^n +
     stato`s standing still.] (Elec.)
     A contrivance for adjusting or regulating the strength of
     electrical currents, operating usually by the intercalation
     of resistance which can be varied at will. --Wheatstone.
     --{Rhe`o*stat"ic}, a.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  rheostat
       n : resistor for regulating current [syn: {variable resistor}]