substation

Everyday

1. A substation is a place, often fenced in, with large electrical equipment that changes electricity so it can be sent to homes, schools and shops. tree →
2. A substation can also be a small branch office, like a police substation. tree →

In the lessons

In science and safety lessons about electricity, power stations make electricity, pylons carry it, and substations change the voltage before it reaches homes. Safety: never climb into a substation or fetch a ball from one — the electricity can kill; tell an adult or call the power company. Signs say «Danger of death».

Examples

• A substation turns very high voltage into safer voltage for homes. tree →
• Never go inside a substation fence. tree →
• Our ball went over the fence into the substation, so we called an adult. tree →
• The lights went out when the substation was hit by lightning. tree →
• There is a small substation at the end of our street. tree →
• The sign on the substation says «Danger: keep out». tree →

Note

Countable noun: sub- (under, smaller) + station. Electricity at a substation is extremely dangerous even without touching: stay away. In science, voltage is stepped up for long-distance cables and stepped down at substations.