-or; -our (primarily British)
(Latin: a suffix; state of, result of; he who, that which)
A suffix that forms nouns. British spelling is usually -our.
1. Someone who gives up a high office, formally or officially; especially, a royal throne: "The duke, by giving up his title, was seen by many as an abdicator; but he was happy to retire to the country because since his younger brother also chose to abdicate his position, they were referred to as the 'Brother Abdicators'."
2. Anyone who fails to fulfill a duty or responsibility: "The manager of the store was an abdicator of his duties."
2. Anyone who fails to fulfill a duty or responsibility: "The manager of the store was an abdicator of his duties."
1. Someone who illegally leads, or takes, someone away by force or deception: "The description of the abductor matched the profile in the police station."
2. A muscle that pulls the body or a limb away from a midpoint or midline; such as, raising the arm out from the side: "Eric strained both abductors in his right arm when he tried to throw the baseball."
2. A muscle that pulls the body or a limb away from a midpoint or midline; such as, raising the arm out from the side: "Eric strained both abductors in his right arm when he tried to throw the baseball."
1. The heat shields of space vehicles, which melt or wear away during the re-entry into the earth's atmosphere: "The scientisst created a new ablator which could withstand extreme heat."
2. The outer surface of a spacecraft or missile: "Ablation is the erosion of the protective outer surface, or ablator, of a spacecraft or missile resulting from aerodynamic heating caused by travel at hypersonic speeds during re-entry through the atmosphere."
2. The outer surface of a spacecraft or missile: "Ablation is the erosion of the protective outer surface, or ablator, of a spacecraft or missile resulting from aerodynamic heating caused by travel at hypersonic speeds during re-entry through the atmosphere."
"The ablators on the spacecraft were welded into place using a specialized metal that would withstand great heat."
acanthor
1. A pedal or other device to make something go faster, to speed up, or to quicken the pace: "The car suddenly lunged into a tree when he stepped too hard on the accelerator."
2. A machine used to increase the velocity, and hence the kinetic energy, of subatomic particles or nuclei, usually in preparation for collision with a target.
2. A machine used to increase the velocity, and hence the kinetic energy, of subatomic particles or nuclei, usually in preparation for collision with a target.
adductor
A muscle that draws any limb, or part of the body, towards the trunk or main axis, or which folds or closes extended parts of the body.
adjutor
A helper or assistant.
aerator
1. A device used to aerate a substance or medium; such as, to expose it to air or another gas.
2. Specifically, a device installed in a faucet or shower head to add air to the water flow; thus, maintaining an effective spray while reducing overall water consumption.
3. Something that aerates; such as, a machine for aerating turf or a device for aerating liquids.
2. Specifically, a device installed in a faucet or shower head to add air to the water flow; thus, maintaining an effective spray while reducing overall water consumption.
3. Something that aerates; such as, a machine for aerating turf or a device for aerating liquids.
aerogenerator
A device that generates electricity from the kinetic energy produced by wind.
aggressor
1. A person or nation, that attacks or starts a war, a fight, or an argument, often without being provoked.
2. Anyone who initiates hostilities; such as, an assailant who attacks another person or who engages in some form of aggressive behavior.
3. Someone whose behavior may be violent, unpredictable, reactionary, and impulsive; for example, anyone who breaks the law.
2. Anyone who initiates hostilities; such as, an assailant who attacks another person or who engages in some form of aggressive behavior.
3. Someone whose behavior may be violent, unpredictable, reactionary, and impulsive; for example, anyone who breaks the law.
agitator
1. A person who tries to stir up people in support of a social or political cause: often used in an unfavorable sense.
2. An apparatus for shaking or stirring, as in a washing machine.
2. An apparatus for shaking or stirring, as in a washing machine.
alleviator (s), alleviators (pl) (noun forms)
A person or something that alleviates: "The therapist was a great alleviator of the back pain."
"The new tunnel under the river will be a wonderful alleviator of traffic across the bridge."
alternator
An old term for an electric generator that produces alternating current; especially in automobiles.
amboceptor
1. Denotes the anti-sheep red blood cell antibody used in complement fixation tests.
2. In bacteriology, an antibody able to damage or destroy a microorganism or other cell by connecting complement to it.
3. A substance that when added to another breaks down red blood cells.
2. In bacteriology, an antibody able to damage or destroy a microorganism or other cell by connecting complement to it.
3. A substance that when added to another breaks down red blood cells.
1. Someone who walks aroud; a walker.
2. An instrument for measuring distances: "The surveyor was using an ambulator consisting of a wheel to roll along over the ground with a dial plate to measure the distance traveled from one point to another one."
2. An instrument for measuring distances: "The surveyor was using an ambulator consisting of a wheel to roll along over the ground with a dial plate to measure the distance traveled from one point to another one."
