regulator : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: regulator	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for regulator
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
regulator n any of various controls or devices for regulating or controlling fluid flow, pressure, temperature, etc. an official responsible for control and supervision of a particular activity or area of public interest a control that maintains a steady speed in a machine (as by controlling the supply of fuel) Synonym(s): governor, regulator
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Regulator \Reg"u*la`tor\ (-l?`t?r), n. 1. One who, or that which, regulates. 2. (Mach.) A contrivance for regulating and controlling motion, as: (a) The lever or index in a watch, which controls the effective length of the hairspring, and thus regulates the vibrations of the balance. (b) The governor of a steam engine. (c) A valve for controlling the admission of steam to the steam chest, in a locomotive. 3. A clock, or other timepiece, used as a standard of correct time. See {Astronomical clock} (a), under {Clock}. 4. A member of a volunteer committee which, in default of the lawful authority, undertakes to preserve order and prevent crimes; also, sometimes, one of a band organized for the comission of violent crimes. [U.S.] A few stood neutral, or declared in favor of the Regulators. --Bancroft.