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The substance or body that insulates; a nonconductor.

A formal and elaborate preliminary treatise; specifically, a treatise introductory to other treatises, or to a course of study; a guide; as, an introduction to English literature.

Serving to introduce; introductory. -- In`tro*duc"tive*ly, adv.

Introductory; especially, introductory to the study of theology.

The conductor of a public journal, or one whose business it to write for a public journal; an editorial or other professional writer for a periodical. Addison.

A box through which the main conductors of a system of electric distribution pass, and where connection is made with branch circuits.

One who, or that which, leads or conducts; a guide; a conductor. Especially:

r or instrument. It consists of a short circuit to the ground interrupted by a thin nonconductor over which lightning jumps. Called also lightning discharger. -- Lightning bug (Zoöl.), a luminous beetle. See Firefly. -- Lightning conductor, a lightning rod. -- Lightning glance, a quick, penetrating glance of a brill…

One who manages; a conductor or director; as, the manager of a theater. A skillful manager of the rabble. South.

One who leads by the hand; a manuductor. [Obs.]

in; -- treated by the poets as identical with the Greek Hermes, messenger of the gods, conductor of souls to the lower world, and god of eloquence.

the variations in the contact resistance of conducting bodies, especially of imperfect conductors, under the action of acoustic vibrations.

rial, made by blowing a powerful jet of air or steam through melted slag. It is a poor conductor of heat.

A lightning conductor erected, as in a vineyard, for drawing off the electricity in the atmosphere in order to prevent hailstorms. [France] Knight.

A conductor of lightning; a lightning rod.

ure that the way is clear. -- Pilot fish. (Zoöl) (a) A pelagic carangoid fish (Naucrates ductor); -- so named because it is often seen in company with a shark, swimming near a ship, on account of which sailors imagine that it acts as a pilot to the shark. (b) The rudder fish (Seriola zonata). -- Pilot jack, a flag or…

ube or hollow body of wood, metal, earthenware, or the like: especially, one used as a conductor of water, steam, gas, etc.

A introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a book, document, etc.; specifically, the introductory part of a statute, which states the reasons and intent of the law.

Of or pertaining to a preamble; introductory; contained or provided for in a preamble. "A preambulary tax." [R.] Burke.

Preceding; going before; introductory. [R.] Simon Magus had preambulatory impieties. Jer. Taylor.