rheostat

noun

rheo·​stat ˈrē-ə-ˌstat 

: a resistor for regulating a current by means of variable resistances

rheostatic

ˌrē-ə-ˈsta-tik 

adjective

Examples of rheostat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Imagine a rheostat for dialing up cornering forces. —Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2023

But instead of targeting the splicing of gene transcripts, CAMP4’s drugs are directed at regulatory molecules that act like rheostats to control how much of those transcripts are made in the first place. —Elie Dolgin, Discover Magazine, 26 Apr. 2023

A rheostat allows the throttle to be fine-tuned to sustain walking speeds. —John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, 21 June 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rheostat

noun

rheo·​stat ˈrē-ə-ˌstat 

: a resistor for regulating an electric current by the use of variable resistances

rheostatic

ˌrē-ə-ˈstat-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

rheostat

noun

rheo·​stat ˈrē-ə-ˌstat 

: a resistor for regulating a current by means of variable resistances

rheostatic

ˌrē-ə-ˈstat-ik 

adjective