electric cell

electric cell

A device, such as a battery, that is capable of changing some form of energy, such as chemical energy or radiant energy, into electricity. Also called voltaic cell. An electric cell that converts light energy into electrical energy using the photoelectric effect is called a photoelectric or photovoltaic cell; such cells are used in the generation of solar power and are called solar cells. See also galvanic.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

electric cell - a device that delivers an electric current as the result of a chemical reaction cell electrical device - a device that produces or is powered by electricity electrolytic cell - a cell containing an electrolyte in which an applied voltage causes a reaction to occur that would not occur otherwise (such as the breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen) fuel cell - cell that produces electricity by oxidation of fuel (hydrogen and oxygen or zinc and air); often used in electric cars photovoltaic cell, solar cell - a cell that converts solar energy into electrical energy secondary cell, storage cell - a cell that can be recharged galvanic cell, primary cell, voltaic cell - an electric cell that generates an electromotive force by an irreversible conversion of chemical to electrical energy; cannot be recharged