\Con*dens"er\, n.
1. One who, or that which, condenses.
2. (Physic)
   (a) An instrument for condensing air or other elastic
       fluids, consisting of a cylinder having a movable
       piston to force the air into a receiver, and a valve
       to prevent its escape.
   (b) An instrument for concentrating electricity by the
       effect of induction between conducting plates
       separated by a nonconducting plate.
   (c) A lens or mirror, usually of short focal distance,
       used to concentrate light upon an object.
3. (Chem.) An apparatus for receiving and condensing the
   volatile products of distillation to a liquid or solid
   form, by cooling.
4. (Steam Engine) An apparatus, separate from the cylinder,
   in which the exhaust steam is condensed by the action of
   cold water or air. See Illust. of {Steam engine}.
{Achromatic condenser} (Optics), an achromatic lens used as a
   condenser.
{Bull's-eye condenser}, or {Bull's-eye} (Optics), a lens of
   short focal distance used for concentrating rays of light.
{Injection condenser}, a vessel in which steam is condensed
   by the direct contact of water.
{Surface condenser}, an apparatus for condensing steam,
   especially the exhaust of a steam engine, by bringing it
   into contact with metallic surface cooled by water or air.