Noun: commutator 'kóm-yu,tey-tu(r)
- A device in an electric motor or generator that periodically reverses the current direction
"The engineer adjusted the commutator to change the motor's rotation"
- (mathematics) an expression (ab - ba) or operation that measures failure of commutativity
"The commutator of two matrices is zero if and only if they commute"
Derived forms: commutators
Type of: electric switch, electrical switch, switch
Encyclopedia: Commutator