voltmeter
Americannoun
noun
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An instrument used for measuring the difference in voltage between two points in an electric circuit. Voltmeters typically make use of an ammeter that measures current flow across a known resistance inside the voltmeter; direct-current voltages can then be determined by Ohm's law. Digital voltmeters employ A/D converters to provide the numerical value of the voltage displayed.
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Compare ohmmeter
Etymology
Origin of voltmeter
Vocabulary lists containing voltmeter
Electrical Engineering
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Engineering - Middle School
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Engineering - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In practice, a voltmeter would report a potential of −0.47 V with its red and black inputs connected to the Pb and Cu electrodes, respectively.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Very little current flows through the voltmeter if its resistance is a few orders of magnitude greater than the device, and so the circuit is not appreciably affected.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
By connecting resistors to this galvanometer in different ways, you can use it as either a voltmeter or ammeter that can measure a broad range of voltages or currents.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
Suppose you measure the terminal voltage of a 1.585-V alkaline cell having an internal resistance of 0.100 Ω by placing a 1.00-k Ω voltmeter across its terminals.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
The voltmeter enables the voltage of the charging generator to be kept above that of the battery, as the latter rises during charge.
From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Samuel McMeen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
