transformer
Pronunciation
Noun
B2 Upper-intermediate
Quick answer
A device that changes the voltage of an alternating electric current, usually with two coils of wire wound around a shared iron core.
Usage notes
'Transformer' in physics refers to this electrical device, not the toy or film franchise that borrows the name.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "The power station uses a huge _____ to step the voltage down before it reaches nearby homes."
Answer: transformer
In your own words, what does "transformer" mean?
A device that changes the voltage of an alternating electric current, usually with two coils of wire wound around a shared iron core.
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