maxwell

¹

[ maks-wel, -wuhl ]

noun

, Electricity.

1. the centimeter-gram-second unit of magnetic flux, equal to the magnetic flux through one square centimeter normal to a magnetic field of one gauss. : Mx

Maxwell

²

[ maks-wel -wuhl ]

noun

1. Elsa, 1883–1963, U.S. professional hostess and author.
2. James Clerk [klahrk], 1831–79, Scottish physicist.
3. a male given name.

Maxwell

¹

/ ˈmækswəl /

noun

1. MaxwellJames Clerk18311879MScottishSCIENCE: physicist James Clerk. 1831–79, Scottish physicist. He made major contributions to the electromagnetic theory, developing the equations ( Maxwell equations ) upon which classical theory is based. He also contributed to the kinetic theory of gases, and colour vision
2. Maxwell(Ian) Robert19231991MBritishCzechWRITING: publisher ( Ian ) Robert , original name Robert Hoch. 1923–91, British publisher, born in Slovakia: founder (1949) of Pergamon Press; chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd. (1984–91); theft from his employees' pension funds and other frauds discovered after his death led to the collapse of his business

maxwell

²

/ ˈmækswəl /

noun

1. the cgs unit of magnetic flux equal to the flux through one square centimetre normal to a field of one gauss. It is equivalent to 10 ^–8weber Mx

Maxwell

¹

/ măks′wĕl′ /

1. Scottish physicist who developed four laws of electromagnetism showing that light is composed of electromagnetic waves. He also investigated heat and the kinetic theory of gases, and he experimented with color vision, producing the first color photograph in 1861.

maxwell

²

/ măks′wĕl′,-wəl /

1. The unit of magnetic flux in the centimeter-gram-second system, equal to the flux perpendicularly intersecting an area of one square centimeter in a region where the magnetic intensity is one gauss.

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxwell¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; named after J. C. Maxwell

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxwell¹

C20: named after James Clerk Maxwell

Biography

James Clerk Maxwell was only fourteen years old when he published his first paper—an accomplishment for anyone, but especially for one who was thought by his first tutor to be slow-witted. His precocious talents, especially in mathematics, did not go unrecognized by others, however, and he started making lasting contributions to science while still very young. In his 20s, he wrote a prize-winning essay in which he showed, based on laws of classical physics, that Saturn's rings were not a single object, but a collection of small objects—a finding not confirmed until over 120 years later, when the Voyager space probe reached the planet. His most famous work was his demonstration, done while he was in his 30s, of the existence of electromagnetic waves and his conclusion that light was also part of the electromagnetic spectrum. This set of discoveries was of fundamental importance for 20th-century physics, as it paved the road for Einstein's theories of relativity and for quantum theory. Other novel ideas of Maxwell's led to the establishment of such diverse fields as information theory and cybernetics. Little wonder, then, that Einstein said, on the centenary of Maxwell's birth in 1931, that his work had been “the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton.”

Example Sentences

Maxwell was not available for comment but has described all claims against her as “untrue” and “obvious lies.”

From The Daily Beast

Maxwell was not available for comment describes all claims against her as “untrue” and “obvious lies.”

From The Daily Beast

Would you believe, as Maxwell Smart used to say, that the candidate increases his lead?

From The Daily Beast

But Thomas left the ball exposed in one arm, and Maxwell easily stripped him of it.

From The Daily Beast

One: “Stealing shamelessly from Jan Maxwell, who was Elsa when I did it.”

From The Daily Beast

My No. 4239 addressed to Maxwell and repeated to you was sent before receiving your telegram under reply.

From Project Gutenberg

Maxwell in Egypt has been improvising a few; Methuen at Malta says they can't make them there.

From Project Gutenberg

My dear child, don't you know who the Charles Maxwell is whose name those boys are yelling?

From Project Gutenberg

I gave the papers to Captain Lancing and Mr. Maxwell, and asked them to see that they were securely placed away.

From Project Gutenberg

I immediately took a hansom to Maxwell's rooms, to find that he had gone to Paris in a great hurry.

From Project Gutenberg