step-up transformer

/'step'ʌptræns'fɔ:mə/

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Explanation of "Step-Up Transformer"

Definition: A "step-up transformer" is a device used in electricity that increases (or steps up) the voltage of electrical energy.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "step-up transformer" when discussing electrical systems, power generation, or electronics.
• It is a technical term, so it is often used in engineering, physics, and technology contexts.

Example:

• "The power plant uses a step-up transformer to raise the voltage of electricity before sending it through the power lines."

Advanced Usage:

• In engineering discussions, you might encounter terms that relate to the efficiency of step-up transformers, like "turns ratio," which refers to the ratio of the number of coils in the primary coil to the number of coils in the secondary coil.

Word Variants:

• Transformer: The general term for a device that changes voltage levels.
• Step-Down Transformer: This is the opposite of a step-up transformer, which decreases voltage.

Different Meanings:

• While "step-up transformer" has a specific meaning in electrical engineering, "step-up" on its own can be used in other contexts to mean improving or increasing something. For example, "We need to step up our efforts to finish the project."

Synonyms:

• Voltage booster
• Electrical transformer (though this is more general)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Step up to the plate: This idiom means to take responsibility or take action when needed, similar to how a transformer steps up voltage.
• Step up: As a phrasal verb, it can mean to increase or improve something, such as "We need to step up our game in order to compete better."

Summary:

A step-up transformer is an important device in electrical systems that increases voltage. It is essential for efficiently transmitting electricity over long distances.

Academic

Noun

1. a transformer that increases voltage