Jump To:

• gilbert
  gilbert

  noun

  the centimeter-gram-second unit of magnetomotive force, equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns. Gi
• Gilbert
  Gilbert

  noun

  Cass, 1859–1934, U.S. architect noted for grand Beaux-Arts public buildings, including the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and for influential skyscraper designs.

gilbert

¹ American  

[gil-bert] / ˈgɪl bərt /

noun

Electricity.

1. the centimeter-gram-second unit of magnetomotive force, equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns. Gi

---

Gilbert ² American  

[gil-bert] / ˈgɪl bərt /

noun

1. Cass, 1859–1934, U.S. architect noted for grand Beaux-Arts public buildings, including the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and for influential skyscraper designs.

2. Henry Franklin Belknap 1868–1928, U.S. composer noted as a collector and preservationist of American folk music, especially African American songs.

3. Sir Humphrey, 1537?–83, English soldier, navigator, and colonizer in America: half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh.

4. John John Cecil Pringle, 1897?–1936, U.S. actor: a major star of silent films, known as “the Great Lover.”

5. Walter, born 1932, U.S. biochemist and molecular biologist: shared Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1980.

6. William, 1544?–1603, English physician and physicist: pioneer experimenter in magnetism and electricity.

7. Sir William Schwenck W. S., 1836–1911, English dramatist, librettist, and poet: collaborator with Sir Arthur Sullivan.

8. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning “pledge” and “bright.”

---

Gilbert ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɪlbət /

noun

1. Grove Karl. 1843–1918, US geologist who pioneered the study of river development and valley erosion

2. Sir Humphrey. ?1539–83, English navigator: founded the colony at St John's, Newfoundland (1583)

3. William. 1540–1603, English physician and physicist, noted for his study of terrestrial magnetism in De Magnete (1600)

4. Sir W ( illiam ) S ( chwenck ). 1836–1911, English dramatist, humorist, and librettist. He collaborated (1871–96) with Arthur Sullivan on the famous series of comic operettas, including The Pirates of Penzance (1879), Iolanthe (1882), and The Mikado (1885)

---

gilbert ² British  

/ ˈɡɪlbət /

noun

1. Symbols: Gb.   Gi.  a unit of magnetomotive force; the magnetomotive force resulting from the passage of 4π abamperes through one turn of a coil. 1 gilbert is equivalent to 10/ 4 π = 0.795 775 ampere-turn

---

Gilbert ¹ Scientific  

/ gĭl′bərt /

1. American biologist who, building upon the work of Frederick Sanger, formulated a method for determining the sequence of bases in DNA that made it possible to manufacture genetic materials in the laboratory. For this work he shared with Sanger and American biologist Paul Berg the 1980 Nobel Prize for chemistry.

---

Gilbert ² Scientific  

1. English court physician and physicist whose book De Magnete (1600) was the first comprehensive scientific work published in England. Gilbert demonstrated that the Earth itself is a magnet, with lines of force running between the North and South Poles. He theorized that magnetism and electricity were two types of a single force and was the first to use the words electricity and magnetic pole.

---

Etymology

Origin of gilbert

First recorded in 1890–95; named after William Gilbert

Example Sentences

The agency's director-general Gilbert Houngbo "has decided to rescind the appointment of the deputy director-general, considering continued delays in the payment of arrears", the ILO said in a statement.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

“You go from having discretionary income to being on a fixed income. That can have a big emotional impact. There’s no more fun, no more playing. It can be hard to accept,” Gilbert said.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

In the Acquired podcast, and in articles for the Journal, David and co-host Ben Gilbert go deep into the history and strategy of the world's greatest companies, studying what made them work uniquely well.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Gilbert notes that by the end of the show everyone will think, “I guess I’m not Lizzie. I’m Mary. And lucky me.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Gilbert Swinyard and Pete Redmarley appeared in the far distance, way over the crossroads.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell