effector
effector — noun
- effectorsingular
- effectorsplural
1. An organ or cell in a living body that becomes active after receiving a nerve si
An organ or cell in a living body that becomes active after receiving a nerve signal and produces a specific response.
Nora watched the muscle effector contract when a small shock reached the frog leg.
muscle effector (organ as effector)
Tanvi measured how quickly the effector cells released chemicals after the nerve signal.
Diego learned that sweat glands are effectors that cool the body when it is hot.
The heart acts as an effector by changing its beating speed based on brain signals.
- responder
a broader term; any entity that reacts, not limited to biological systems
- reactive tissue
more descriptive; emphasises the tissue's ability to react
- receptor
detects the stimulus rather than carrying out the response
文法句型
effector + that-clause
用法筆記
In biology, effector is contrasted with receptor: receptors detect a stimulus, and effectors carry out the response. Frequently appears in phrases like effector cell, effector organ, or muscle effector.
常見錯誤
2. A person, thing, or force that produces a particular outcome or makes a change h
A person, thing, or force that produces a particular outcome or makes a change happen.
Anthony believes that education is a powerful effector of social change in poor communities.
effector of + abstract noun (causer sense)
Beatrix argued that social media has become a major effector of public opinion worldwide.
Amelia saw the new law as an effector behind a drop in pollution downtown.
The court ruling was the main effector behind the policy change in local schools.
- result
the outcome rather than the thing that produces it
文法句型
effector + of + noun
用法筆記
In general usage, this sense is rare and quite formal. The word is most commonly used in biology (sense 1). In everyday English, words like driver, cause, or factor are more natural alternatives.