Related Searches
Nearby Words

armature

 [ahr-muh-cher]   Origin

ar·ma·ture

   [ahr-muh-cher]
noun
1.
armor.
2.
Biology. the protective covering of an animal or plant, or any part serving for defense or offense.
3.
Electricity.
a.
the part of an electric machine that includes the main current-carrying winding and in which the electromotive force is induced.
b.
the pivoted part of an electric device, as a buzzer or relay, that is activated by a magnetic field.
c.
the iron or steel applied across the poles of a permanent magnet to close it, or across the poles of an electromagnet to transmit a mechanical force.
4.
Sculpture. a skeletal framework built as a support on which a clay, wax, or plaster figure is constructed.
Origin:
1535–45; (< Middle French ) < Latin armātūra an outfit, armor, equivalent to armāt(us) equipped (see arm2, -ate1) + -ūra -ure

Can be confused: amateur, armature.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To armature

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Armature is always a great word to know.
So is genealogy. Does it mean:
a group of individuals or species having a common ancestry
the colloidal and liquid substance of which cells are formed, the cytoplasm and nucleus: no longer in technical use
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
armature (ˈɑːmətjʊə)
 
—n
1.  a revolving structure in an electric motor or generator, wound with the coils that carry the current
2.  any part of an electric machine or device that moves under the influence of a magnetic field or within which an electromotive force is induced
3.  Also called: keeper a soft iron or steel bar placed across the poles of a permanent magnet to close the magnetic circuit
4.  such a bar placed across the poles of an electromagnet to transmit mechanical force
5.  sculpture a framework to support the clay or other material used in modelling
6.  the protective outer covering of an animal or plant
7.  archaic armour
 
[C15: from Latin armātūra armour, equipment, from armāre to furnish with equipment; see arm²]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

armature
1835, from L. armatura "armor," from armatus, pp. of armare "to arm, furnish with weapons" from arma (see arm (2)). Electromagnetic sense is from 1835.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
armature   (är'mə-chər)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. The part of an electric motor or generator that consists of wire wound around an iron core and carries an electric current. In motors and generators using direct current, the armature rotates within a magnetic field; in motors and generators using alternating current a magnetic field is rotated about the armature.

  2. A piece of soft iron connecting the poles of a magnet.

  3. The part of an electromagnetic device, such as a relay or loudspeaker, that moves or vibrates.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT