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commutator Definition

com·mu·ta·tor (käm′yə tāt′ər)

noun

a device that commutates an electric current, esp. a split-ring metallic conductor that spins rapidly with the armature of a DC motor or generator while in contact with the fixed brushes

Etymology: < L commutatus (pp. of commutare, commute) + -or

commutator Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • iterate: Expanding an iterated commutator produces a complicated and long expression.

Adjective modifier

  • normed: Square brackets can be used in order to form left normed commutators.
  • left: Square brackets can be used in order to form left normed commutators.

Modifies a noun

  • factor: A group whose commutator factor group is finite can only have finite nilpotent quotient groups.
  • group: A group whose commutator factor group is finite can only have finite nilpotent quotient groups.
  • segment: The gaps between the commutator segments should be cleaned using wooden cocktail sticks.
  • clause: The other, more straightforward way is just to include COMMUTATOR clauses in both definitions.
  • operator: The commutator operator should be identified if one exists, so that PostgreSQL can reverse the order of the operands if it wishes.
  • relation: The following set of power and commutator relations is a defining set of relations.