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# insulator

noun (an insulator, insulators)

«insulator» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An insulator is a material that does not let heat pass through it easily, like wool, plastic foam or air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#m1)
2. An insulator is also a material that does not let electricity flow through it, like plastic, rubber, wood or glass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, children test materials as good or poor insulators: thermal insulators keep heat in (hot drinks in a flask, a woolly hat, house insulation) or keep heat out (a cool box for ice). Electrical insulators keep us safe: plastic covers on wires and plugs stop electricity reaching our hands. The opposite is a conductor (metals conduct both heat and electricity well). Phrases: «a good insulator», «a poor insulator», «thermal insulator», «electrical insulator».

### Examples

- Plastic is a good electrical insulator. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x1)
- The plastic coating on the wire is an insulator. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x2)
- Wool is a good insulator, so it keeps us warm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x3)
- We tested which material was the best insulator for keeping ice from melting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x4)
- Metal is a conductor, not an insulator. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x5)
- Air trapped in feathers is a great insulator. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x6)
- Polar bears' thick fur and fat are insulators. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x7)
- Wooden spoon handles are insulators, so they don't get hot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/#x8)

### Note

Countable: «an insulator» (vowel, so «an»). Opposite: «conductor». Verb: «insulate»; noun: «insulation». Myth: a coat does not make heat; it is an insulator that keeps your own body heat in. Water with salts in it can conduct electricity, so wet insulators may be unsafe.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «insulator» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/insulator/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«insulator» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/insulator.html) on Mova free.