Conductor CONDUCTOR, n. 1. A leader; a guide; one who goes
before or accompanies, and shows the way. 2. A chief; a commander;
one who leads an army or a people. 3. A director; a manager.
4. In surgery, an instrument which serves to direct the knife in cutting
for the stone, and in laying up sinuses and fistulas; also, a machine
to secure a fractured limb. 5. In electrical experiments, any body
that receives and communicates electricity; such as metals and moist
substances. Bodies which repel it, or into which it will not pass,
are called non-conductors. Hence, 6. A metallic rod erected by
buildings or in ships, to conduct lightning to the earth or water,
and protect the building from its effects.
conductor
n 1: the person who leads a musical group [syn: conductor,
music director, director]
2: a substance that readily conducts e.g. electricity and heat
[ant: dielectric, insulator, nonconductor]
3: the person who collects fares on a public conveyance
4: a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc.
conductor nounDate: 15th century one that conducts: as a.guideb.
a collector of fares in a public conveyance c. the leader of a
musical ensemble d.(1) a material or object that permits an electric current to flow
easily — compare insulator, semiconductor(2) a material
capable of transmitting another form of energy (as heat or sound)
• conductorialadjective
conductor n. 1 a person who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir etc. 2 (fem. conductress) a a person who collects fares in a bus etc. b US an official in charge of a train. 3
Physics a a thing that conducts or transmits heat or electricity, esp. regarded in terms of its capacity to do this (a poor conductor). b = lightning-conductor. 4 a guide or leader. 5 a manager
or director. Phrases and idioms: conductor rail a rail transmitting current to an electric train etc. Derivatives: conductorship n. Etymology: ME f. F conducteur f.
L conductor (as conduct)
conductor
(conductors)
1. A conductor is a person who stands in front of an orchestra or choir and directs
its performance.
N-COUNT
2. On a bus, the conductor is the person whose job is to sell tickets to the passengers.
N-COUNT
3. On a train, a conductor is a person whose job is to travel on the train in order to
help passengers and check tickets. (AM; in BRIT, use guard)
N-COUNT
4. A conductor is a substance that heat or electricity can pass through or along.
N-COUNTsee alsolightning conductor, semiconductor
conductor
kənˈdʌktə n. 1 a person who directs the performance of an orchestra
or choir etc. 2 (fem. conductress) a a person who collects fares in a bus
etc. b US an official in charge of a train. 3 Physics a a thing that conducts
or transmits heat or electricity, esp. regarded in terms of its capacity to
do this (a poor conductor). b = lightning-conductor. 4 a guide or leader. 5
a manager or director. øconductor rail a rail transmitting current to an
electric train etc. øøconductorship n. [ME f. F conducteur f. L conductor
(as conduct)]
Conductor \Con*duct"or\ (k[o^]n*d[u^]k"t[~e]r), n. [LL., a
carrier, transporter, L., a lessee.]
1. One who, or that which, conducts; a leader; a commander; a
guide; a manager; a director.
Zeal, the blind conductor of the will. --Dryden.
2. One in charge of a public conveyance, as of a railroad
train or a street car. [U. S.]
3. (Mus.) The leader or director of an orchestra or chorus.
4. (Physics) A substance or body capable of being a medium
for the transmission of certain forces, esp. heat or
electricity; specifically, a lightning rod.
5. (Surg.) A grooved sound or staff used for directing
instruments, as lithontriptic forceps, etc.; a director.
6. (Arch.) Same as Leader.
Prime conductor (Elec.), the largest conductor of an
electrical machine, serving to collect, accumulate, or
retain the electricity.
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