volt

1 of 2

noun (1)

: the practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to the difference of potential between two points in a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the power dissipated between these two points is equal to one watt and equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of one ohm when one ampere is flowing through it
1
: a leaping movement in fencing to avoid a thrust
2
a
: a tread or gait in which a horse going sideways makes a turn around a center
b
: a circle traced by a horse in this movement

Examples of volt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The vacuum’s 20 volts of power snatch up dust, dirt, crumbs, and more from hard floors and carpets. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 The engine is bolted to an 8 speed automatic sport transmission, with a 48 volt mild hybrid system, routed into an xDrive all wheel drive performance traction control system, with driving dynamic control and three selectable driving modes. Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2024 Chicago recently received a taste of what this could mean, when a very cold snap left some EV drivers hurrying to charging stations only to find lines so long that their cars were out of power before the rescuing volts could flow. David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024 This made both the switching speed and the switching energy orders of magnitude lower—a mere 0.1 volts and 120 attojoules to switch. IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2024 Some sharks can detect weak currents as low as five billionths of a volt per square centimeter. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023 The shock of more than 7,000 volts of electricity shooting through his body blew off his thumb and burned him from the inside out. Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023 Watch on This air conditioner is extra sturdy since it's made from a plastic cooler, and the fan can be powered by a 12 volt battery or a 15-watt (1 amp) solar panel. Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 7 Aug. 2023 In a recent advance, researchers have created a novel battery charger that can support present and future generations of battery packs for EVs across a vast range of voltages: anything between 120 and 900 volts. IEEE Spectrum, 21 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'volt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Alessandro Volta

Noun (2)

borrowed from French volte, borrowed from Italian volta "turn," noun derivative of voltare "to turn," going back to Vulgar Latin *volvitāre, frequentative of Latin volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1873, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of volt was in 1688

Dictionary Entries Near volt

Cite this Entry

“Volt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volt. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

volt

noun
ˈvōlt
: a unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to the difference in potential between two points in a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the power used between these two points is equal to one watt

Medical Definition

volt

noun
1
: the practical mks unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to the difference of potential between two points in a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the power dissipated between these two points is equal to one watt and equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of one ohm when one ampere is flowing through it
2
: a unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to 1.00034 volts and formerly taken as the standard in the United States

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