conductor
gb/kəndˈʌktɚ/ us/kəndˈʌktɚ/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
role
1
person who leads musicians
A person who leads an orchestra or choir.
Usage pattern:
a conductor; the conductor of [orchestra/choir]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse the music conductor with a train conductor; both are called “conductor.”
Synonyms
music director (Often an official job title with wider responsibilities than conducting.)
|
maestro (More admiring; often used for a celebrated conductor.)
|
bandleader (More common for bands than for orchestras.)
Collocations
orchestra conductor
|choir conductor
|guest conductor
|principal conductor
|conducting baton
|conductor's baton
|conductor's podium
|under the conductor
|the conductor raised his baton
|a famous conductor
Themes
music
|performing_arts
Examples
- The conductor signaled the strings to come in softly.
- Our choir conductor chose a slower tempo for the final verse.
- She worked as an assistant conductor before leading her own orchestra.
Learner examples
- The conductor leads the orchestra.
- The conductor uses a baton.
Noun
B1
role
2
staff member on a train
A worker on a train or bus who checks tickets and helps passengers.
Usage pattern:
a conductor; the conductor on [a train/bus]
Common mistake:
In some places, “ticket inspector” is more common than “conductor,” especially on trains.
Synonyms
ticket inspector (Focuses mainly on checking tickets; not always in charge of the train.)
|
guard (Common in some varieties of English for a train staff role similar to a conductor.)
Antonyms
passenger (A passenger travels; a conductor works on the vehicle.)
Collocations
train conductor
|bus conductor
|the conductor checked tickets
|call the conductor
|speak to the conductor
|the conductor announced the next stop
|the conductor's cabin
|uniformed conductor
|conductor on duty
|conductor's whistle
Themes
travel
|transport
|work
Examples
- The conductor walked through the carriage checking tickets.
- Ask the conductor which stop is best for the museum.
- The conductor announced a delay due to signal problems.
Learner examples
- The conductor checked my ticket.
- I asked the conductor for help.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
material that carries electricity
A material that lets electricity or heat move through it easily.
Usage pattern:
a conductor of [electricity/heat]; a good/poor conductor
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say “controller” or “connector”; the correct word for a material that carries electricity is “conductor.”
Synonyms
conductive material (A descriptive term; common in technical contexts.)
Antonyms
insulator (An insulator does not allow electricity or heat to pass through easily.)
Collocations
electrical conductor
|thermal conductor
|good conductor
|poor conductor
|conductor of electricity
|conductor of heat
|metal conductor
|copper is a conductor
|conductive material
|insulator and conductor
Themes
science
|technology
|education
Examples
- Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity.
- Plastic is an insulator, not a conductor.
- Metal pans heat up quickly because metal is a good conductor of heat.
Learner examples
- Metal is a good conductor.
- Rubber is not a conductor.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
4
wire that carries current
A wire that carries electricity.
Usage pattern:
a conductor; connect [something] to the conductor
Common mistake:
In everyday English, people often say “wire”; “conductor” is more technical and common in instructions or manuals.
Synonyms
wire (More general and common; not all wires are described technically as conductors.)
|
lead (Often used for a wire connecting to a device (especially in electronics).)
Collocations
live conductor
|bare conductor
|conductor wire
|earth conductor
|neutral conductor
|connect the conductor
|exposed conductor
|conductor size
|conductor insulation
|current-carrying conductor
Themes
technology
|electronics
|work
Examples
- Make sure the conductor is fully covered by insulation.
- The electrician replaced the damaged conductor in the cable.
- Do not touch any exposed conductors.
Learner examples
- This cable has two conductors.
- The conductor carries electricity.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conductor
IPA
GB/kəndˈʌktɚ/
US/kəndˈʌktɚ/
Syllables & stress
con - duct - or (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (duct)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conductor
- Plural: conductors
Word family
Forms
conductors
noun
Core family
conduct
verb B1
Related words
conduction
noun
conductive
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
misconduct
noun B2
nonconductive
adjective
Advanced or less common
conductivity
noun
Expressions
bus conductor
1/bˈʌs kəndˈʌktɚ/
fixed phrase
staff member on a bus
A worker on a bus who collects money or checks tickets.
Examples
- The bus conductor collected fares as we got on.
- Show your pass to the bus conductor.
- The bus conductor told us when to get off for the market.
conductor rail
1/kəndˈʌktɚ ɹˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
rail supplying electricity to trains
A rail that gives electric power to a train.
Examples
- The train draws power from a conductor rail.
- Warning signs were posted near the exposed conductor rail.
- Engineers shut off the conductor rail before entering the track area.
conductor's baton
1/kəndˈʌktɚz bˈætən/
fixed phrase
stick used to keep time
A small stick a conductor uses to lead music.
Examples
- The conductor lifted his baton and the orchestra began.
- She gripped the conductor's baton tightly during the fast section.
- Without a conductor's baton, he conducted using only his hands.
guest conductor
1/ɡˈɛst kəndˈʌktɚ/
fixed phrase
invited conductor for a concert
A conductor who is invited for a short time.
Examples
- The orchestra hired a guest conductor for the summer festival.
- Tonight’s concert will be led by a guest conductor from Berlin.
- As guest conductor, she rehearsed the musicians for three days.
principal conductor
1/pɹˈɪnsəpəl kəndˈʌktɚ/
fixed phrase
main conductor of an orchestra
The main conductor of an orchestra.
Examples
- She was appointed principal conductor of the city orchestra.
- The principal conductor chose a program of contemporary works.
- Under the principal conductor, the ensemble developed a distinctive sound.
train conductor
1/tɹˈeɪn kəndˈʌktɚ/
fixed phrase
staff member on a train
A worker on a train who checks tickets and helps passengers.
Examples
- The train conductor checked our tickets just after we left the station.
- Ask the train conductor if you need help with your seat.
- The train conductor announced that the next stop was Central.