constantan

[ kawn-stuh n-tan ]
/ ˈkɔn stənˌtæn /

noun

an alloy containing approximately 55 percent copper and approximately 45 percent nickel, used for electrical resistance heating and thermocouples.

Origin of constantan

First recorded in 1900–05; constant + -an

Words nearby constantan

constant of gravitation, constant of integration, constant positive pressure breathing, constant region, constant-velocity joint, constantan, constantia, constantine, constantine i, constantine ii, constantine the great

British Dictionary definitions for constantan

constantan
/ (ˈkɒnstənˌtæn) /

noun

an alloy of copper (60 per cent) and nickel (40 per cent). It has a high resistivity that does not vary significantly with temperature and is used in resistors and, with copper, in thermocouples

Word Origin for constantan

C20: formed from constant