Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An instrument by which the energy of sound-waves, as those produced by the human voice, may be made to perform mechanical work.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Physics) An instrument in which motion is produced by the vibrations of a sounding body.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun physics An instrument in which motion is produced by the vibrations of a sounding body.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

phono- +‎ motor

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Examples

  • "phonomotor," converts the vibrations of the voice or of music, acting on the diaphragm, into motion which is utilized to drive some secondary appliance, whether as a toy or for some useful purpose.

    Edison, His Life and Inventions Frank Lewis Dyer 1905

  • The second includes devices like the tasimeter, phonomotor, odoroscope, etc., and others now to be noted.

    Edison, His Life and Inventions, vol. 2 1910

  • The ` ` voice-engine, '' or ` ` phonomotor, '' converts the vibrations of the voice or of music, acting on the diaphragm, into motion which is utilized to drive some secondary appliance, whether as a toy or for some useful purpose.

    Edison, His Life and Inventions, vol. 1 1910

  • The second includes devices like the tasimeter, phonomotor, odoroscope, etc., and others now to be noted.

    Edison, His Life and Inventions Frank Lewis Dyer 1905

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