conductor

UK: /kənˈdʌktə^r/ US: /kənˈdʌktɚ/ ,(kən duk′tər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•duc•tor /kənˈdʌktɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a person who conducts;
   director or manager:
   a tour conductor.
2. an employee on a bus, train, or other public transportation who is in charge of its movement and its passengers.
3. Music and Dance a person who directs an orchestra, band, or chorus.
4. Physics a substance that readily conducts heat, etc.:
   a good conductor of electricity.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•duc•tor  (kən duk′tər), n. 

1. a person who conducts; a leader, guide, director, or manager.
2. an employee on a bus, train, or other public conveyance, who is in charge of the conveyance and its passengers, collects fares or tickets, etc.
3. Music and Dance a person who directs an orchestra or chorus, communicating to the performers by motions of a baton or the hands his or her interpretation of the music.
4. Physics a substance, body, or device that readily conducts heat, electricity, sound, etc.:
   Copper is a good conductor of electricity.
5. Electricity See lightning rod. 

• Latin as above; see conduit
• Anglo-French, equivalent. to Middle French conduiteur
• Latin (see conduce, -tor); replacing late Middle English cond(u)itour
• 1400–50

con•duc•to•ri•al  (kon′duk tôr′ē əl, -tōr′-), adj.  con•duc′tor•ship′, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conductor / kənˈdʌktə/ noun

1. an official on a bus who collects fares, checks tickets, etc
2. a person who conducts an orchestra, choir, etc
3. a person who leads or guides
4. a railway official in charge of a train
5. a substance, body, or system that conducts electricity, heat, etc
6. See lightning conductor

conˈductorˌship noun

conductress / kənˈdʌktrɪs/ noun:feminine