accumulator
/əˈkjuːmjəleɪtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtər/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlā-tər/ (ame, mw)
accumulator — noun
- accumulatorsingular
- accumulatorsplural
1. a device that stores electrical energy in a chemical form so that it can be used
a device that stores electrical energy in a chemical form so that it can be used later, and that can be recharged again and again after it has been used up.
Mei-Ling connected an accumulator to her solar panel to store daytime energy for use at night.
connect an accumulator to [power source]
Unlike standard disposable batteries, an accumulator can be recharged hundreds of times before it wears out.
The car's old accumulator held enough charge to restart the engine after sitting unused for two weeks.
Omar replaced the lead-acid accumulator in his workshop with a newer nickel-metal hydride model that lasts longer.
- rechargeable battery
the common everyday term; 'accumulator' is more technical
- storage battery
emphasises the storing function, used especially for large industrial batteries
- secondary cell
technical term used in engineering and chemistry contexts
- disposable battery
a battery meant to be thrown away after one use
- primary cell
the technical term for a non-rechargeable battery
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, most English speakers say 'rechargeable battery' instead. 'Accumulator' is more common in technical manuals and automotive contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a special storage location inside a computer's processor that holds a number whi
a special storage location inside a computer's processor that holds a number while arithmetic operations are being performed on it, and that can add new numbers to the value already stored.
The CPU transferred the calculation result into the accumulator before the next addition step.
transfer [value] into the accumulator
Kwame designed a faster accumulator circuit for the new processor chip at his lab.
Each addition operation reads the current value from the accumulator register, adds the new number, and writes the sum back.
The accumulator held the running total of all sales while the checkout system processed each item.
- register
broader term for any fast storage location inside the CPU; an accumulator is one type of register
- arithmetic register
specifies the register's role in performing calculations
- counter
similar in function but usually counts events rather than summing arbitrary values
用法筆記
This sense is almost entirely restricted to computer-architecture textbooks and processor design discussions. In casual computing talk, people refer to 'registers' or simply 'the CPU'.
常見錯誤
3. a type of bet where the money you win or risk on one event is automatically used
a type of bet where the money you win or risk on one event is automatically used as the stake on the next event, so that all the events must be correct for you to win anything.
Zara placed an accumulator on four football matches over the weekend and won all of them.
place an accumulator on [number] [sport] matches
Lukas lost his five-team accumulator when the last team fell in the final minute of the game.
Fatima placed a three-match football accumulator — two teams won, but the third drew and she lost everything.
The bookmaker warned Diego that accumulator bets carry higher risk than individual single bets.
- parlay
the standard American English term for the same betting arrangement
- multiple bet
a general term for any bet combining several selections
- combo bet
informal abbreviation for combination bet
- single bet
a bet placed on just one event with no rollover of winnings
用法筆記
Primarily used in British English. In American English, the term 'parlay' is much more common for this type of bet.