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rheostat
noun
rheo·stat
ˈrē-ə-ˌstat
: a resistor for regulating a current by means of variable resistances
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1843, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near rheostat
Cite this Entry
“Rheostat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rheostat. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
rheostat
noun
rheo·stat
ˈrē-ə-ˌstat
: a resistor for regulating an electric current by the use of variable resistances
Medical Definition
rheostat
noun
rheo·stat
ˈrē-ə-ˌstat
: a resistor for regulating a current by means of variable resistances
More from Merriam-Webster on rheostat
Britannica English: Translation of rheostat for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rheostat
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