electrophorus

[ ih-lek-trof-er-uhs, ee-lek- ]

noun,plural e·lec·troph·o·ri [ih-lek-trof-uh-rahy, ee-lek-]. /ɪ lɛkˈtrɒf əˌraɪ, ˌi lɛk-/.
  1. an instrument for generating static electricity by means of induction.

Origin of electrophorus

1
1770–80; electro- + -phorus, Latinization of -phore

Words Nearby electrophorus

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How to use electrophorus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for electrophorus

electrophorus

/ (ɪlɛkˈtrɒfərəs, ˌiːlɛk-) /


noun
  1. an apparatus for generating static electricity. It consists of an insulating plate charged by friction and used to charge a metal plate by induction

Origin of electrophorus

1
C18: from electro- + -phorus, from Greek -phoros bearing, from pherein to bear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for electrophorus

electrophorus

[ ĭ-lĕk′trŏfər-əs, ē′lĕk- ]


Plural electrophori
  1. An electrostatic generator, constructed like one half of a large capacitor, the other half being any grounded surface, such as a table. A small charge is given to the electrophorus when it is near the grounded surface, effectively charging it like capacitor. As the electrophorous is lifted away from the surface, its voltage relative to the surface increases (as the capacitance decreases).

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