oscillator

noun

Meaning

A device that creates a repeating, periodic fluctuation between two states or values, often used to generate electrical signals or sound waves.

The quartz crystal acts as an oscillator to keep the digital watch ticking at a precise rhythm.
Engineers adjusted the frequency of the oscillator to ensure the transmitter broadcasted clearly.

Synonyms: vibrator, generator, resonator, transducer

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɒsɪleɪtər/

A device that creates a repeating, periodic fluctuation between two states or values, often used to generate electrical signals or sound waves.

The quartz crystal acts as an oscillator to keep the digital watch ticking at a precise rhythm.
Engineers adjusted the frequency of the oscillator to ensure the transmitter broadcasted clearly.
A simple pendulum can be viewed as a mechanical oscillator that swings back and forth.

crystal oscillator (collocation): a circuit that uses a crystal to maintain a precise frequency — "The motherboard relies on a crystal oscillator to synchronize its internal operations."
local oscillator (collocation): a circuit used in radio receivers to convert incoming signals to a lower frequency — "The radio's sensitivity depends heavily on the stability of its local oscillator."

Words with a similar meaning to oscillator: