Definition

Noun: - An electrical component: A choke coil is a passive electronic component consisting of a coil of wire wound around a core. Its primary function is to allow direct current (DC) to pass through while impeding, or "choking," alternating current (AC). It achieves this through its property of high inductance and low resistance.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The engineer added a choke coil to the circuit to filter out the AC ripple from the DC power supply.
  • A common application for a choke coil is in power supplies to smooth the output current.

Advanced Usage

• "Choke" as a standalone term: In electronics, the word "choke" is often used alone as a shortened form of "choke coil."
  • The design requires a choke to suppress high-frequency noise.

Variants and Related Words

• Choke (n): A common abbreviation for choke coil.
• Inductor (n): A more general term for a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. A choke coil is a specific type of inductor designed for blocking high-frequency AC.
• Ballast (n): In some contexts, particularly in lighting, a choke coil can function as an electrical ballast to limit current.

Synonyms

• Reactor (n): In electrical engineering, this can be a synonym for an inductor used to introduce reactance into a circuit.
• Impedance coil (n): A descriptive term highlighting its function of providing impedance to alternating current.

Related Phrases

• Choke off (phrasal verb): While not a technical term for the component, this phrasal verb meaning "to stop or suppress" relates metaphorically to the coil's function of suppressing AC current.
  • The new regulations could choke off economic growth.

Noun

1. a coil of low resistance and high inductance used in electrical circuits to pass direct current and attenuate alternating current