commutator

Meaning

1. An electrical switch, in a generator or motor, that periodically reverses the direction of an electric current.
2. A binary map in a given group G, given by [g, h] = ghg⁻¹h⁻¹, where g and h are elements of G, which yields the group's identity if and only if the group operation commutes for g and h.
3. A binary map in a given ring R, given by [a, b] = ab − ba, where a and b are elements of R, which yields the ring's zero element if and only if the multiplication operation commutes for a and b.

Synonyms

switchboard

collector

com

rectifier

switch

manual exchange

distributor

diverter

divider

power converter

relay

reverser

polereverser

guide apparatus

ring header

reversing apparatus

electric commutator

adapter

ring collector

allotter

chopper

commuter

detector

dispatcher

Translations

commutatore

comutador

Kommutator

commutateur

Stromwender

conmutador

komütatör

Gleichrichter

Kollektor

interruptor

peça coletora

Comutador

centralita

çevirgeç

Etymology

Back-formation from commutation (in the late 19th century), as is commutate (verb) too.