coulomb

1 of 2

noun

cou·​lomb ˈkü-ˌläm 

-ˌlōm

: the practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electric charge equal to the quantity of electricity transferred by a current of one ampere in one second

coulomb

2 of 2

adjective

kü-ˈläm-bik 

-ˈlōm-,

-ˈlä-mik,

-ˈlō-

variants or coulombic

: of, relating to, or being the electrostatic force of attraction or repulsion between charged particles

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ampere: One ampere (or amp for short) is equal to a specific flow of current (a coulomb) moving past a point in one second, and named for French physicist André-Marie Ampère who first theorized the existence of the electron. —Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 7 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Charles A. de Coulomb

First Known Use

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1930, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

coulomb

noun

cou·​lomb

ˈkü-ˌläm,

-ˌlōm;

kü-ˈläm,

-ˈlōm

: the practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electric charge equal to the quantity of electricity transferred by a current of one ampere in one second

Medical Definition

coulomb

noun

cou·​lomb ˈkü-ˌläm, -ˌlōm, kü-ˈ 

: the practical mks unit of electric charge equal to the quantity of electricity transferred by a current of one ampere in one second

Biographical Definition

Coulomb

biographical name

Cou·​lomb kü-ˈlōⁿ 

ˈkü-ˌläm,

-ˌlōm,

kü-ˈläm,

-ˈlōm

Charles-Augustin de 1736–1806 French physicist