noun ·4 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   An electric generator which produces alternating current through mechanical means.
2. 2
   an old term for an electric generator that produces alternating current (especially in automobiles) wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

acceleratorautoautomobiledeviceelectrical parts and devicesgenerator

Example

More examples

"We need to replace the alternator."

Etymology

From alternate + -or.

Related phrases

Alexanderson alternatoralternating current

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.