voltaic pile

noun

, Electricity.

1. an early battery cell, consisting of several metal disks, each made of one of two dissimilar metals, arranged in an alternating series, and separated by pads moistened with an electrolyte.

voltaic pile

noun

1. an early form of battery consisting of a pile of paired plates of dissimilar metals, such as zinc and copper, each pair being separated from the next by a pad moistened with an electrolyte Also calledpilegalvanic pileVolta's pile

voltaic pile

1. A source of electricity consisting of a number of disks that alternate between two different metals and are separated by acid-moistened pads, forming a set of galvanic cells connected in series.
2. See more at galvanicSee Note at battery

Word History and Origins

Origin of voltaic pile¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

As he drew the dog up to an apparatus which we know as a voltaic pile, he rounded off his words with his false and grating laugh.

From Project Gutenberg

Volta actually made this battery, then known as the Voltaic Pile, but he made it because of Galvani's discovery.

From Project Gutenberg

A few years afterwards Volta devised what is known as the voltaic pile (Fig. 20).

From Project Gutenberg

Grouped about his feet are a gear-wheel, voltaic pile, telegraph key, and telephone.

From Project Gutenberg

At the beginning of 1800, he sent a detailed description of the voltaic pile to the Royal Society of London.

From Project Gutenberg