Jump to:

• Tesla coil
  Tesla coil

  noun

  an air-core transformer used to produce high voltages of high-frequency alternating currents.
• tesla coil
  tesla coil

  noun

  a step-up transformer with an air core, used for producing high voltages at high frequencies. The secondary circuit is tuned to resonate with the primary winding

Tesla coil

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. an air-core transformer used to produce high voltages of high-frequency alternating currents.

---

tesla coil British  

noun

1. a step-up transformer with an air core, used for producing high voltages at high frequencies. The secondary circuit is tuned to resonate with the primary winding

---

tesla coil Scientific  

1. An electrical device that generates extremely high voltages, usually for the purpose of creating dramatic electric arcs and lightning effects or for producing x-rays. Tesla coils use step-up transformers to boost the voltage of a power supply and build up large charges in a capacitor. A spark gap periodically shorts out the capacitor, releasing its charge in huge current flows, that generate extremely high voltages (up to ten million volts) through an open-air transformer.

---

Etymology

Origin of Tesla coil

First recorded in 1900–05; named after its inventor, N. Tesla

Example Sentences

There’s a Tesla coil, and we will test out various electrical energy reactions.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2025

Here, we had a 1.5 million volt Tesla coil, throwing 8-to-12-foot real sparks.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2020

While still in high school, Markham and a friend, Tom Sheally, built a Tesla coil that could make lightning 3 or 4 feet long.

From Washington Times • Oct. 31, 2020

In Griffith Park, we oozed uphill through heavy traffic toward the Tesla coil.

From Slate • Oct. 2, 2020

Merle Tuve, who was still struggling to produce high-energy particles with his obstreperous Tesla coil, saw little practical application for Lawrence’s curved variation on a linear accelerator.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik