Definitions

1. noun

An optical or other instrument that focuses a beam of light or other radiation into a narrow beam or on a small area.

“The telescope used a collimator to focus the light onto a precise point.”

2. noun

A device that aligns or regulates the direction of a beam of particles, such as electrons or ions.

“The physicists used a collimator to steer the electron beam towards the target.”

3. noun

A device in a particle accelerator that collimates the beam.

“The collimator in the accelerator ensured a stable beam of particles.”

4. noun

A component of a telescope or other optical instrument that adjusts the position of an object in the field of view.

“The collimator allowed the astronomer to accurately position the star in the telescope’s field of view.”