solar cell
noun
a photovoltaic cell that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Nearby words
solanum, solar, solar activity, solar apex, solar battery, solar cell, solar cells, solar chariot, solar cheilitis, solar collector, solar constant
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British Dictionary definitions for solar cells
solar cell
noun
a photovoltaic cell that produces electricity from the sun's rays, used esp in spacecraft
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Science definitions for solar cells
solar cell
A photoelectric cell designed to convert sunlight into electrical energy, typically consisting of layers or sheets of specially prepared silicon. Electrons, displaced through the photoelectric effect by the Sun's radiant energy in one layer, flow across a junction to the other layer, creating a voltage across the layers that can provide power to an external circuit. Solar cells are used as power supplies in calculators, satellites, and other devices, and as a primary source of electricity in remote locations.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Culture definitions for solar cells
solar cells
Devices, usually made of semiconductors, that convert sunlight directly into electric current (see also current). Solar cells power artificial satellites and are often used in remote locations of the Earth.
Note
At present, solar cells are too expensive and inefficient to be used for commercial generation of electricity.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.