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commutate

 - 2 dictionary results

com⋅mu⋅tate

  [kom-yuh-teyt]
Use commutate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -tat⋅ed, -tat⋅ing. Electricity.
1. to reverse the direction of (a current or currents), as by a commutator.
2. to convert (alternating current) into direct current by use of a commutator.
Origin:
1645–55; back formation from commutation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To commutate
com·mu·tate   (kŏm'yə-tāt')   
tr.v.   com·mu·tat·ed, com·mu·tat·ing, com·mu·tates
To reverse the direction of (an alternating electric current) each half-cycle to produce a unidirectional current.

[Back-formation from commutator.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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