dielectric
/ˌdaɪ.ɪˈlɛk.tɹɪk/ noun, adjective
Forms dielectrics
- noun (physics) An electrically insulating or nonconducting material considered for its electric susceptibility, i.e. its property of polarization when exposed to an external electric field.
- adjective (electrically) insulating
Synonyms
Etymology
Learned 19th-century formation, coined by William Whewell (died 1866).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Any substance or medium that transmits the electric force by a process different from conduction, as in the phenomena of induction; a nonconductor. separating a body electrified by induction, from the electrifying body.
Etymology [Pref. dia- + electric.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “dielectric”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details