pyroelectricity

[ pahy-roh-i-lek-tris-i-tee, -ee-lek- ]

noun

1. electrification or electrical polarity produced in certain crystals by temperature changes.

pyroelectricity

/ ˌpaɪrəʊɪlɛkˈtrɪsɪtɪ; -ˌiːlɛk- /

noun

1. the development of opposite charges at the ends of the axis of certain hemihedral crystals, such as tourmaline, as a result of a change in temperature

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyroelectricity¹

First recorded in 1825–35; pyro- + electricity