regulators

IPA/ˈreɡ.jə.leɪ.tər/
KK[rˈɛɡjəlˌetɚz]IPA/ˈreɡ.jə.leɪ.t̬ɚ/

regulators — noun

  • regulatorssingular
  • regulatorsesplural

1. a mechanical or electronic device that keeps a machine or system operating at a

1.名詞C1
釋義

a mechanical or electronic device that keeps a machine or system operating at a fixed speed, temperature, pressure, or flow rate

例句

Esteban adjusted the pressure regulator on his air compressor before starting work.

collocation: pressure regulator

The heating system has a thermostat that acts as a temperature regulator.

collocation: temperature regulator

同義詞
  • controller

    broader term; can refer to any manual or automatic control device

  • governor

    specific to engine-speed regulation in mechanical engineering

  • valve

    different function — controls flow by opening/closing, not by maintaining a set level

文法句型

regulator + preposition (of/for)

often in compound nouns: [quantity] + regulator

用法筆記

Often used in compound nouns that name the quantity being controlled (e.g. pressure regulator, temperature regulator, voltage regulator).

常見錯誤

❌I need a new valve for the gas stove.' (when meaning the pressure controller).
✅I need a new gas regulator for the stove.
💡a valve opens and closes a pipe; a regulator keeps the pressure at a steady level.

2. a government agency or an independent organization that supervises an industry t

2.名詞B2
釋義

a government agency or an independent organization that supervises an industry to ensure it follows laws and operates fairly

例句

The financial regulator fined the bank for not following anti-money-laundering rules.

collocation: financial regulator

Japan's communications regulator introduced new rules for internet service providers.

同義詞
  • authority

    more general; can refer to any official body with legal power

  • oversight body

    emphasises the monitoring and supervision function

  • watchdog

    informal term often used in news media for consumer-protection regulators

反義詞
  • deregulator

    a person or policy that removes regulations rather than enforcing them; much less common

文法句型

the + [sector] + regulator

regulator + of + [industry]

用法筆記

Subject is typically the name of the industry or sector (financial, energy, communications, etc.) combined with 'regulator' as a compound noun.

常見錯誤

❌The factory supervisor is the government regulator for our industry.
✅A factory supervisor manages daily worker tasks, while a government regulator checks whether the company follows industry laws.
💡a supervisor oversees people; a regulator oversees compliance with rules across an entire sector.