lightning conductornoun [ C ]
uk/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ kənˌdʌk.tər/us/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ kənˌdʌk.tɚ/UK also mainly US lightning rodlightning conductor noun [ C ] (METAL STRIP)
a strip of metal, going from the highest point of a building to the ground, that prevents lightning from damaging the building by taking the electricity to the ground before it can reach a dangerous level
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Poles, rods, shafts and sticks
- bar
- billy club
- boathook
- bollard
- broomstick
- cane
- maypole
- pointer
- rod
- rung
- shaft
- shooting stick
- ski pole
- spoke
- stake
- totem pole
- truncheon
- utility pole
- waddy
- wand
See more results »
lightning conductor noun [ C ] (FOR CRITICISM)
someone or something that takes all the blame or criticism in a situation, although other people or things are responsible too:
In a harsh economic climate, pay rises for politicians have become a lightning conductor for criticism.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Blaming & accusing
- a bad workman blames his tools idiom
- accusation
- accusatory
- accusing
- allegation
- attribute
- attribution
- carry
- chalk sth up
- charge
- contributory negligence
- face the music idiom
- finger-pointing
- frame
- hang
- haul sb up
- indictment
- opprobrium
- recrimination
- stitch sb up
See more results »