work function

American  

noun

1. Physics. the least energy necessary to free an electron from a metal surface.

2. Thermodynamics. Helmholtz function.

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work function British  

noun

1.  φ.   Φ.  physics the minimum energy required to transfer an electron from a point within a solid to a point just outside its surface

2. thermodynamics another name (not now used because of confusion with sense 1) for Helmholtz function

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