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commutate

(käm′yə tāt′)

to repeatedly reverse the direction of (an electric current), esp. in a motor that uses direct current as its power source or in a generator that produces direct current

Origin: back-form. < commutation

See commutate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb 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.

Origin:

Origin: Back-formation from commutator

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