noun
superconductor
SOO-pur-kun-duk-tur/ˈsuːpərkəndʌktər/
A material that carries electric current without resistance under certain conditions.
This material becomes a superconductor when cooled below its critical temperature.
Etymology
A conductor passes electricity; super- marks something beyond ordinary conduction. Here that distinction is precise: under the required conditions, the material conducts with no electrical resistance.
In context
it's a superconductor at lower temperatures
More examples
- The MRI scanner uses a superconductor to create a strong magnetic field.
- Researchers test new superconductors at a range of temperatures.
- A strong enough magnetic field can make a superconductor lose its resistance-free state.
Forms
superconductor · superconductors
superconductivity noun — The state of conducting electricity without resistance.
superconducting adjective — Able to carry electric current without resistance.
Similar words
- conductor
- Carries electric current, but usually with some electrical resistance.