regenerator
|re-gen-er-a-tor|
🇺🇸
/rɪˈdʒɛnəreɪtər/
🇬🇧
/rɪˈdʒɛnəreɪtə/
that which renews or restores
Etymology
'regenerator' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'regenerare', where 're-' meant 'again' and 'generare' meant 'to beget or produce'.
'regenerator' changed from Late Latin participial forms of 'regenerare' and entered English through Medieval and Early Modern usage as 'regenerator'.
Initially, it meant 'one who or that which makes new or begets again', but over time it evolved to include modern senses such as biological regrowth and technical devices that restore energy or signals.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who experiences or brings about spiritual renewal or conversion (historical/religious use).
After his conversion he was regarded as a regenerator by the congregation.
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Noun 2
a living part or organism capable of regrowth or restoration of lost tissue (biological sense).
The salamander acts as a regenerator when it grows back its tail.
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Noun 3
a device or component that stores and returns heat to improve thermal efficiency (engineering; e.g., in Stirling engines).
The regenerator in the Stirling engine greatly improves its thermal efficiency.
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Noun 4
an electronic or telecommunications device that restores, reshapes, and retransmits a signal to counteract attenuation or distortion (signal regenerator).
Repeaters and regenerators are placed at intervals along the cable to preserve signal integrity.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/24 03:56