What term describes the reduction of amplitude in an oscillator circuit?

Damping refers to the process that reduces the amplitude of oscillations in an oscillator circuit. This phenomenon can occur due to various factors, such as resistance in the circuit, which dissipates energy as heat, leading to a gradual decrease in oscillation amplitude over time. In electronic systems, damping is often a desired characteristic to prevent oscillations from becoming too large or unstable, ensuring a controlled and stable output.

Attenuation describes the reduction in signal strength, usually in transmission lines or signals, but does not specifically pertain to the amplitude reduction of oscillations in an active circuit like damping does. Feedback relates to the process of returning a portion of the output to the input, which can stabilize or amplify signals rather than reduce their amplitude. Gain refers to the increase in amplitude or power of a signal, directly opposing the concept of damping. Therefore, damping is the precise term that aligns with the reduction of amplitude in an oscillator circuit.