condenser: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “condenser” mean?
A device or apparatus that condenses a substance, especially by cooling, from a gaseous to a liquid state.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device or apparatus that condenses a substance, especially by cooling, from a gaseous to a liquid state.
An apparatus or component used to concentrate, intensify, or compress something, such as light, sound, or electrical charge; also refers to a type of microphone that uses a capacitor (condenser) to convert sound waves into electrical signals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. In historical/older electronics contexts, British English may prefer 'condenser' for 'capacitor', while modern American English almost exclusively uses 'capacitor'. Both varieties use 'condenser microphone'.
Connotations
Equally technical in both varieties. Slightly more old-fashioned when referring to electrical components in British English.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “condenser” in a Sentence
[condenser] + [for + NP] (a condenser for the distillation apparatus)[condenser] + [in + NP] (the condenser in the refrigeration cycle)[NP] + [with a condenser] (a microscope with a condenser)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “condenser” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lab technician will condense the vapour using a cold trap.
- The report was condensed into a single-page summary.
American English
- The system condenses moisture from the air.
- The director condensed the novel into a two-hour film.
adjective
British English
- The condenser unit was making a rattling noise.
- We need a new condenser microphone for the studio.
American English
- The condenser coil was clogged with dirt.
- She preferred the sound of a condenser mic for vocals.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like HVAC sales or audio equipment manufacturing.
Academic
Common in physics, chemistry, engineering, and photography textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
The primary domain. Precision is required: a 'condenser' in a car's AC system is different from one in a chemistry lab or a recording studio.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “condenser”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “condenser”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “condenser”
- Using 'condenser' in everyday contexts where 'cooling coil', 'radiator', or simply 'part of the fridge/AC' would be more appropriate.
- Confusing 'condenser' (the component that condenses) with 'compressor' (the component that compresses the refrigerant) in refrigeration systems.
- Assuming it is synonymous with 'capacitor' in all modern electronics contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern electronics, 'capacitor' is the standard term. 'Condenser' is an older, now largely obsolete term for the same component, though it persists in the compound 'condenser microphone'.
A refrigerator, air conditioner, or car cooling system. The 'condenser' is the part (usually a set of coils) where the refrigerant gas releases heat and condenses into a liquid.
No. 'Condenser' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to condense'.
It uses a capacitor (historically called a condenser) as part of its transducer element. The sound waves vibrate one plate of the capacitor, changing its capacitance and thus creating an electrical signal.
A device or apparatus that condenses a substance, especially by cooling, from a gaseous to a liquid state.
Condenser is usually formal / technical in register.
Condenser: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈden.sər/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈden.sɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CON-DENSER: it makes steam CONcentrate and become DENSE liquid.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FOCUSING/CONCENTRATING DEVICE (for gases, light, sound, electricity).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these devices would you NOT typically find a component called a 'condenser'?