| A2 |
abbreviation of "ampere" or "amperes," a unit of electrical current that refers to the quantity of current that passes through a resistor of one ohm when a potential of one volt is applied, equal to one coulomb per second. |
| AC1 |
abbreviation of "alternating current," electrical current that reverses direction at regular intervals. (Cf. "DC.") |
| accumulator |
a register or electrical circuit for storing numbers and performing one or more arithmetic or logical operations on them, as in a calculator or computer. [1/3 definitions] |
| alternating current |
electrical current that reverses direction at regular intervals. (Cf. direct current.) |
| alternator |
a generator which produces alternating electrical current. |
| ammeter |
an instrument that measures the magnitude of an electrical current in amperes. |
| amperage |
the magnitude of an electrical current, expressed in amperes. |
| ampere |
a unit of electrical current that refers to the quantity of current that passes through a resistor of one ohm when a potential of one volt is applied, equal to one coulomb per second. (abbr.: A, amp) |
| amplify |
in electrical terminology, to increase the current, amplitude, voltage, or power of. [1/4 definitions] |
| antimatter |
in physics, matter having particles comparable to those of common matter, but with opposite electrical charges or magnetic characteristics. |
| antimony |
a chemical element that has fifty-one protons in each nucleus and forms a brittle bluish white metal crystal, used in hard alloys, electrical components, and medicines. (symbol: Sb) |
| arc |
a bright streak of electricity leaping the gap between two electrical conductors. [1/4 definitions] |
| armature |
a coil-wrapped iron core that rotates in a magnetic field to induce electrical current in a generator, or that produces motion in an electrical motor when current is passed through it. [1/4 definitions] |
| atmospherics |
(used with a sing. verb) static in radio reception caused by atmospheric electrical activity. [2 definitions] |
| atomic age |
(often cap.) the period in history characterized by the development and use of atomic energy in the generation of electrical power and for immensely destructive weapons. |
| atomic number |
the number of protons or positive electrical charges in the nucleus of one atom of a given element. [1/2 definitions] |
| attenuator |
a device that reduces the strength of an electrical signal. |
| bismuth |
a chemical element that has eighty-three protons in each nucleus and is a white brittle crystalline metal with very low thermal and electrical conductivity, used chiefly in alloys and medicines. (symbol: Bi) |
| blow-dry |
to dry or arrange (the hair) with the aid of an electrical hand-held air blower. [1/2 definitions] |
| breadboard |
a board on which experimental designs for an electrical circuit may be laid out. [1/2 definitions] |
| brownout |
a curtailment or reduction of available electrical power in a neighborhood or city. |