voltage

UK: ˈvəʊltɪdʒ | US: ˈvoʊltɪdʒ

Definition

  1. n. the difference in electrical potential between two points, measured in volts

  2. n. (figuratively) intensity or energy, especially emotional or creative

Structure
volt <unit of electrical potential, named after Alessandro Volta>age <noun suffix indicating a measurable quantity>
Etymology

The word "voltage" combines "volt," derived from Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (inventor of the electric battery), with the suffix "-age," denoting a measurable property (e.g., "mileage," "percentage"). The term emerged in the early 19th century to quantify electrical potential, reflecting Volta's foundational contributions to electromagnetism. The suffix "-age" anchors the abstract concept to a tangible metric, mirroring similar scientific terms like "amperage."

Examples

  1. The device measures voltage fluctuations in the circuit.

  2. High voltage power lines require careful handling.

  3. Her speech carried an emotional voltage that moved the audience.

  4. The battery outputs a constant voltage of 3.7 volts.

  5. Engineers tested the voltage drop across the resistor.