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

Words nearby electron volt

electron-ray tube, electron spin resonance, electron telescope, electron transport, electron tube, electron volt, electrooculogram, electro-optics, electro-organic chemistry, electro-osmosis, electropalatography

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use electron volt in a sentence

For comparison, the super-energetic protons in the largest particle accelerator on Earth — the Large Hadron Collider — only reach trillions of electron volts.
Light from space has record-breaking energy|Emily Conover|June 24, 2021|Science News For Students
For comparison, protons in the largest accelerator on Earth, the Large Hadron Collider, reach mere trillions of electron volts.
Record-breaking light has more than a quadrillion electron volts of energy|Emily Conover|May 21, 2021|Science News
A search for possible sources of the 38 highest-energy gamma rays, above 398 trillion electron volts, came up empty, supporting the idea that the gamma rays came from cosmic rays that had wandered about the galaxy.
The Milky Way’s newfound high-energy glow hints at the secrets of cosmic rays|Emily Conover|February 2, 2021|Science News
You have the atom, which has the neutron, the electron, the proton.
‘Crazy’ Harlem Pastor Hates on Obama and Gays|Olivia Nuzzi|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But with an electron micgrograph to illustrate what was fueling the outbreak, they were able to gain the trust of the people.
1976 Vs. Today: Ebola’s Terrifying Evolution|Abby Haglage|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When the gamma rays enter the sleeve, they interact with that photon gas, annihilating into electron-positron pairs.
We Can Create Matter from Light?!|Matthew R. Francis|May 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its electric car the Volt had its best month ever, selling 3,351 units.
U.S. Car Sales Roar in August|William O’Connor|September 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
On the other hand, sales of the Volt declined in April 2013 from April 2012.
Nissan Leaf Leads Growth in April Electric Car Sales|Miranda Green|May 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The next day the electricians hooked it up to a twelve-hundred-volt feed-line, and by noon it was ready to go.
Nine Men in Time|Noel Miller Loomis
The loss of one electron by an atom leaves a unit positive charge on the particle.
The Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis, vol. 1, parts 1 and 2.|Julius Stieglitz
Archivolt, r′ki-volt, n. the band or moulding which runs round the lower part of the archstones of an arch.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
The electron is a stress in the ether, nothing more, but it is the stuff of which all matter is made.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930|Various
Archivolt (rki-volt), in architecture, the ornamental band of mouldings on the face of an arch and following its contour.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2|Various

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.