Meaning & use
linear actuator
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A device that turns power, such as electric, hydraulic or air pressure, into movement in a straight line, pushing or pulling a load.
Grammar: Countable: a linear actuator, several linear actuators. Often named by its power source, like an electric linear actuator.
Patterns
- a linear actuator for something
- drive something with a linear actuator
The standing desk raises and lowers by means of a linear actuator in each leg.
An electric linear actuator opens the hatch on the machine.
The engineers replaced the manual lever with a linear actuator.
Word forms
| plural | linear actuators |
|---|
Common combinations
- electric linear actuator
- An electric linear actuator moves the seat back and forth.
- hydraulic linear actuator
- A hydraulic linear actuator lifts the arm of the excavator.
- install a linear actuator
- We installed a linear actuator to open the skylight automatically.
- stroke length of a linear actuator
- Check the stroke length of the linear actuator before buying it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- actuator
- Actuator is the broader term and may include rotary types, whereas linear actuator specifies straight-line motion.
- hydraulic cylinder
- A hydraulic cylinder is one type of linear actuator that works by fluid pressure.
- ram
- Ram is an informal engineering word for a pushing piston, with less emphasis on controlled motion.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: linear actuator or accumulator?
linear actuator vs accumulator
An accumulator stores pressurized fluid or energy, while an actuator creates movement.
Practice
What does a linear actuator do?
Choose one answer.
Linear means in a straight line, so a linear actuator creates push-pull motion. Spinning describes a rotary device.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “linear actuator”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.