Rheostat
1. Rheostat is a variable resistance, usually consisting of a coil of wire with a terminal at one end and a sliding contact that moves along the coil to tap off the current.
2. Rheostat is an electrical instrument used to control a current by varying the resistance.
Several types of rheostats exist. The rotary type is the most commonly used in power control applications. Most of the time these rheostats use an open construction, but enclosed types are also available. Just as with potentiometers, multi-gang types are available. They are used to control multiple applications in parallel or to increase the power rating or adjustment range. Optionally, rheostats can be equipped with a mechanical stop to limit the minimum or maximum resistance. For special applications they can also be built with tapered windings.
Slide rheostats are also available and often used for education and in laboratory environments. Linear or slide types are constructed of resistive wire wound on an insulating cylinder. A sliding contact is used to increase or decrease the resistance.
Trimmers used as a variable resistance are very common on printed circuit boards. While dedicated preset resistors with 2 terminals exist, the 3-terminal trimmer potentiometer is more common and is often used by wiring it as a rheostat.
Google’s English dictionary by Oxford Languages https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
Англійський словник Коллінза, https://www.collinsdictionary.com/
EE Power https://eepower.com/resistor-guide/resistor-types/rheostat/#