Phrase guide

Wimshurst machine

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An electrostatic generator with two large contra-rotating discs mounted in a vertical plane, two crossed bars with metallic brushes, and a spark gap formed by two metal spheres.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

electrical device that produces a high voltage by building up a charge of static electricity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: electrostatic generator, electrostatic machine, Van de Graaff generator

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: electrical device

Narrower terms: electrophorus

History

Etymology

Developed between 1880 and 1883 by British inventor James Wimshurst (1832–1903).