alternator

IPA/ˈɔːltəneɪtə(r)/
KK[ˈɔltɚnˌetɚ]IPA/ˈɔːltərneɪtər/

alternator — noun

  • alternatorsingular
  • alternatorsplural

1. a piece of equipment in a vehicle that turns the engine's mechanical energy into

1.名詞B2
釋義

a piece of equipment in a vehicle that turns the engine's mechanical energy into electricity, keeping the battery charged and running the lights, radio, and other electrical parts

例句

Mei's mechanic said the alternator was failing and would need to be replaced soon.

collocation: alternator + fail / replace

Sofia's alternator stopped working, so the dashboard battery light glowed red.

同義詞
  • generator

    broader term; an alternator is a type of generator that produces alternating current

  • dynamo

    older term for a DC generator; not interchangeable with alternator in modern usage

用法筆記

Frequently modified by broken, faulty, failed, or bad when describing mechanical problems. In vehicle contexts, alternator often appears with battery (the alternator charges the battery) and belt (the alternator is driven by a belt connected to the engine).

常見錯誤

❌My car's generator needs replacing.
✅My car's alternator needs replacing.
💡Most modern cars use an alternator (AC), not a generator (DC), though the terms are sometimes confused in casual speech.