English

Noun

commutator ‎(plural commutators)

1. an electrical switch, in a generator or motor, that periodically reverses the direction of an electric current
2. (mathematics) (of a group) an element of the form ghg⁻¹h⁻¹ where g and h are elements of the group; it is equal to the group's identity if and only if g and h commute
3. (mathematics) (of a ring) an element of the form ab-ba, where a and b are elements of the ring, it is identical to the ring's zero element if and only if a and b commute

Translations

Derived terms

• anticommutator
• multicommutator

Latin

Verb

commūtātor

1. second-person singular future passive imperative of commūtō
2. third-person singular future passive imperative of commūtō

References

• Félix Gaffiot (1934), “commutator”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
• commutator in Ramminger, Johann (accessed 16 July 2016) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, pre-publication website, 2005-2016