Dielectric vs. Insulator

Dielectricnoun

(metamaterial) An electrically insulating or nonconducting material considered for its electric susceptibility, i.e. its property of polarization when exposed to an external electric field.

Dielectricadjective

(electrically) insulating

Dielectricnoun

Any substance or medium that transmits the electric force by a process different from conduction, as in the phenomena of induction; a nonconductor, separating a body electrified by induction, from the electrifying body.

Dielectricnoun

a material such as glass or porcelain with negligible electrical or thermal conductivity

Dielectric

In electromagnetism, a dielectric (or dielectric material) is an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric material is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in an electrical conductor, but instead only slightly shift from their average equilibrium positions, causing dielectric polarization.

Insulatornoun

A substance that does not transmit heat (thermal insulator), sound (acoustic insulator) or electricity (electrical insulator).

Insulatornoun

A non-conductive structure, coating or device that does not transmit sound, heat or electricity (see image)

Insulatornoun

A person who installs insulation.

Insulatornoun

One who, or that which, insulates.

Insulatornoun

A substance or object that insulates; a nonconductor; as, polyurethane foam is a popular thermal insulator.

Insulatornoun

a material such as glass or porcelain with negligible electrical or thermal conductivity