photoelectricity

[ foh-toh-i-lek-tris-i-tee, -ee-lek- ]

/ ˌfoʊ toʊ ɪ lɛkˈtrɪs ɪ ti, -ˌi lɛk- /

noun Physics.

electricity induced by electromagnetic radiation, as in certain processes, as the photoelectric and photovoltaic effects, photoconductivity, and photoionization.

the branch of physics that deals with these phenomena.

Nearby words

photoelectric current, photoelectric effect, photoelectric magnitude, photoelectric meter, photoelectric threshold, photoelectricity, photoelectron, photoelectrotype, photoemission, photoeng., photoengrave

Origin of photoelectricity

First recorded in 1875–80; photo- + electricity