TechnologyAugust 18, 2026

rectifier

REK-tih-fy-er

Definition

An electronic device that converts alternating current, which periodically reverses direction, into direct current, which flows in only one direction.

Etymology

The word originates from the Latin 'rectus' (straight) and 'facere' (to make), reflecting its function of 'straightening' alternating electrical current into a single direction.

In the news

The word appears in the title and description of a science project built by Steve Jobs, specifically referring to the electronic component he studied as an eighth-grader.

Steve Jobs’ 8th-Grade Science Fair Project Is Up for Auction

Read the full article ↗

Gizmodo

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