maxwell

¹

[ maks-wel, -wuhl ]

noun

, Electricity.

1. the centimeter-gram-second unit of magnetic flux, equal to the magnetic flux through one square centimeter normal to a magnetic field of one gauss. : Mx

Maxwell

²

[ maks-wel -wuhl ]

noun

1. Elsa, 1883–1963, U.S. professional hostess and author.
2. James Clerk [klahrk], 1831–79, Scottish physicist.
3. a male given name.

maxwell

¹

/ ˈmækswəl /

noun

1. the cgs unit of magnetic flux equal to the flux through one square centimetre normal to a field of one gauss. It is equivalent to 10 ^–8weber Mx

Maxwell

²

/ ˈmækswəl /

noun

1. MaxwellJames Clerk18311879MScottishSCIENCE: physicist James Clerk. 1831–79, Scottish physicist. He made major contributions to the electromagnetic theory, developing the equations ( Maxwell equations ) upon which classical theory is based. He also contributed to the kinetic theory of gases, and colour vision
2. Maxwell(Ian) Robert19231991MBritishCzechWRITING: publisher ( Ian ) Robert , original name Robert Hoch. 1923–91, British publisher, born in Slovakia: founder (1949) of Pergamon Press; chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd. (1984–91); theft from his employees' pension funds and other frauds discovered after his death led to the collapse of his business

Maxwell

¹

/ măks′wĕl′ /

1. Scottish physicist who developed four laws of electromagnetism showing that light is composed of electromagnetic waves. He also investigated heat and the kinetic theory of gases, and he experimented with color vision, producing the first color photograph in 1861.

maxwell

²

/ măks′wĕl′,-wəl /

1. The unit of magnetic flux in the centimeter-gram-second system, equal to the flux perpendicularly intersecting an area of one square centimeter in a region where the magnetic intensity is one gauss.

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxwell¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; named after J. C. Maxwell

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxwell¹

C20: named after James Clerk Maxwell

Biography

James Clerk Maxwell was only fourteen years old when he published his first paper—an accomplishment for anyone, but especially for one who was thought by his first tutor to be slow-witted. His precocious talents, especially in mathematics, did not go unrecognized by others, however, and he started making lasting contributions to science while still very young. In his 20s, he wrote a prize-winning essay in which he showed, based on laws of classical physics, that Saturn's rings were not a single object, but a collection of small objects—a finding not confirmed until over 120 years later, when the Voyager space probe reached the planet. His most famous work was his demonstration, done while he was in his 30s, of the existence of electromagnetic waves and his conclusion that light was also part of the electromagnetic spectrum. This set of discoveries was of fundamental importance for 20th-century physics, as it paved the road for Einstein's theories of relativity and for quantum theory. Other novel ideas of Maxwell's led to the establishment of such diverse fields as information theory and cybernetics. Little wonder, then, that Einstein said, on the centenary of Maxwell's birth in 1931, that his work had been “the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton.”

Example Sentences

Maxwell Min, the projects co-ordinator for the Frank Soo Foundation, which celebrates the life of the first non-white player to play for England in 1945, explains why he thinks there is a tension.

From BBC

“That was already a first unification of the transformations of mechanics, since until then physics were considered two different worlds,” Monjo explained, contrasting physicist Isaac Newton’s concepts of physics with those advanced by a similarly foundational physicist, James Clerk Maxwell.

From Salon

Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Lakers’ 2023 first-round pick who recently had his third-year contract option with the team declined, started with second-year wing Maxwell Lewis, James and two-way players Christian Koloko and Quincy Olivari.

From Los Angeles Times

Lakers second-year players Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis have also been with the South Bay Lakers throughout their training camp.

From Los Angeles Times

Watch highlights as Tamworth shock League One Huddersfield Town after an own goal by keeper Chris Maxwell gives the National League side a 1-0 win in the FA Cup first round.

From BBC