actuator

English

Etymology

From actuate + -or. First attested in 1652.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈæk.tjuː.eɪt.ə(ɹ)/

Noun

actuator (plural actuators)

  1. Something that actuates something else.
    The mind is the actuator of the body.
    • 1652, Anthony Burgesse, Spiritual Refining: or a Treatise of Grace and Assurance, Section V, Sermon XLIII, page 264:
      [] and God is the Author and Actuator of nature, as well as of grace; []
  2. A usually electric device that causes a mechanical device (i.e., a mechanism) to be switched on or off. For example; an electric motor that opens and closes a valve.
  3. (computer hardware) The mechanism that moves the head assembly on a disk drive.
  4. (electrical) A relay that controls the flow of electricity.

Derived terms

Translations

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Anagrams

Latin

Verb

āctuātor

  1. second/third-person singular future passive imperative of āctuō
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