actuator

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UK/ˈæk.tjuː.eɪ.tə(ɹ)/UK/ˈæk.t͡ʃu.eɪ.tə(ɹ)/Canada, US/ˈæk.t͡ʃu.eɪ.tɚ/Canada, US[ˈæk.t͡ʃu.eɪ.ɾɚ]

noun

Something that actuates something else.

“The mind is the actuator of the body.”

OriginEnglish actuate ← Medieval Latin āctuātus ← Latin āctuō →
Less commonScrabble 10
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Meanings

nounactuator (plural actuators)

plural actuators

  1. Something that actuates something else.

    The mind is the actuator of the body.

    1 more example

    […] and God is the Author and Actuator of nature, as well as of grace; […]

    1652, Anthony Burgesse, Spiritual Refining: or a Treatise of Grace and Assurance, Section V, Sermon XLIII, page 264
  2. A usually electric device that causes a mechanical device (i.e., a mechanism) to be switched on or off. For example; an electric motor that opens and closes a valve.
  3. computer hardwareThe mechanism that moves the head assembly on a disk drive.
  4. businessA relay that controls the flow of electricity.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eǵ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éǵeti
  3. Proto-Italic*agō
  4. Latinagō
  5. Latināctus
  6. Latināctuō
  7. Medieval Latināctuātus
  8. Englishactuate
  9. Englishactuator

From actuate + -or. First attested in 1652.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish liikuttaja, kannustaja
  • liikuttajasomething that actuates something else
  • kannustajasomething that actuates something else
  • toimilaitedevice that causes a mechanical device to be switched on or off
  • käyttölaitedevice that causes a mechanical device to be switched on or off
  • toimilaitethe mechanism that moves the head assembly on a disk drive
  • aktuaattorithe mechanism that moves the head assembly on a disk drive
  • aktuaattoria relay that controls the flow of electricity
French actionneur, actionneur
  • actionneursomething that actuates something else
  • actionneurdevice that causes a mechanical device to be switched on or off
German Aktor, Aktuator
  • Aktorsomething that actuates something else
  • Aktuatorsomething that actuates something else
  • Aktordevice that causes a mechanical device to be switched on or off
  • Aktuatordevice that causes a mechanical device to be switched on or off
Icelandic armstjóri
  • armstjórithe mechanism that moves the head assembly on a disk drive
Italian attuatore, ripetitore
  • attuatorea relay that controls the flow of electricity
  • ripetitorea relay that controls the flow of electricity
Portuguese atuador
  • atuadorthe mechanism that moves the head assembly on a disk drive

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

autocrat
Cite this entry
APA

actuator. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actuator

MLA

“actuator.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actuator. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “actuator,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/actuator.

Source: actuator on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.