dielectric
n.n. a material that does not conduct electricity well. It is used to store electrical energy and is found in things like capacitors and insulation.
n. a non-conducting substance that can be polarized by an applied electric field. It is used in capacitors to store electrical energy and in insulation to prevent current flow.
The capacitor uses a ceramic dielectric to hold the charge.
Engineers selected a high-quality dielectric for the cable to ensure the signal remained strong over long distances.
The performance of the microwave oven depends heavily on the dielectric properties of the food, which determine how efficiently the electromagnetic energy is converted into heat.
From dia- (“through”) + electric. Learned 19th-century formation, coined by William Whewell (died 1866).