activator

[ ak-tuh-vey-ter ]
/ ˈæk təˌveɪ tər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR activator ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person or thing that activates.
Chemistry, Biochemistry. a catalyst.
any impurity in a mineral that causes luminescence. Compare inhibitor(def 3).
Orthodontics. a removable appliance, usually of hard plastic, that is worn in the mouth instead of a fixed appliance to help align the teeth and improve the relationship of the lower jaw to the upper.

Origin of activator

activate + -or2

OTHER WORDS FROM activator

non·ac·ti·va·tor, noun

Words nearby activator

activated mine, activated resin, activated sludge, activation analysis, activation energy, activator, active, active anaphylaxis, active centre, active chronic hepatitis, active congestion

Words related to activator

catalyst

Example sentences from the Web for activator

  • They may have been, and the use of the activator may have been extorted from one of them.

    Temple Trouble |Henry Beam Piper

  • Nargyll wants to move your ship into one of the sheds, but the activator key's gone.

    Astounding Stories, June, 1931 |Various

  • Finally, he poked the activator bar, and watched as the machine spat out tape.

    The Players |Everett B. Cole

Medical definitions for activator

activator
[ ăk′tə-vā′tər ]

n.

An agent that renders another substance active or accelerates a process or reaction.
The fragment produced by chemical cleavage of a proactivator that induces the enzymatic activity of another substance.