Entry · Friday, May 15, 2026
Plate XXIII., A transformer of impressive proportions, holding court against a backdrop of suburban sprawl.
Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash
Transformer, Power Generation
/tranz-FOR-mer/ n.- 1. A hefty apparatus in an electrical substation, distinguished by its imposing stature and multi-colored coils; esp. one viewed astern, where its girth suggests a surplus of voltage.
- 2. colloq. The heavyweight champion of the electrical world: all power, no chill.
In a sentence,
"The new transformer was so thiccc the substation had to be rezoned. Even the pylons gave it a respectful berth."
Etymology,
From Latin transformare, meaning 'to change in shape or form', + engineering jargon, first attested in the 19th century. Its reputation for girth was an inside job.