electron volt

[ ih-lek-tron-vohlt ]

/ ɪˈlɛk trɒnˌvoʊlt /

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noun Physics.

a unit of energy, equal to the energy acquired by an electron accelerating through a potential difference of one volt and equivalent to 1.602 × 10−19 joules. Abbreviations: eV, ev

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Also e·lec·tronvolt, electron-volt .

Origin of electron volt

First recorded in 1925–30

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for electron volt

electronvolt

/ (ɪˌlɛktrɒnˈvəʊlt) /

noun

a unit of energy equal to the work done on an electron accelerated through a potential difference of 1 volt. 1 electronvolt is equivalent to 1.602 × 10 –19 jouleSymbol: eV

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 electron volt

electron volt

A unit used to measure the energy of subatomic particles. One electron volt is defined as the energy needed to move an electron (which has an electric charge equal to -1) across an electric potential of one volt.