volt

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈvōlt 

: the practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to the difference of potential between two points in a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the power dissipated between these two points is equal to one watt and equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of one ohm when one ampere is flowing through it

volt

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈvōlt  ˈvȯlt 

1

: a leaping movement in fencing to avoid a thrust

2

a

: a tread or gait in which a horse going sideways makes a turn around a center

b

: a circle traced by a horse in this movement

Examples of volt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Amtrak says that 12,000 volts of AC is too dangerous to be racked. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 May 2025

Ferrari’s latest flagship hypercar, the F80 pictured below, uses the same voltage for its hybrid system, and in EVs 800 volts usually means faster, more efficient charging. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

Shock collars can deliver electrical charges as high as 100 volts. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2025

In addition to the dielectric sheet, the chip uses high-power Intel transistors with a breakdown voltage of 6.3 volts and maximum frequency of 290 GHz, higher than those of conventional CMOS transistors. —IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Alessandro Volta

Noun (2)

borrowed from French volte, borrowed from Italian volta "turn," noun derivative of voltare "to turn," going back to Vulgar Latin *volvitāre, frequentative of Latin volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1873, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing volt

• electron volt
• volt-ampere

Rhymes for volt

• bolt
• boult
• colt
• jolt
• molt
• moult
• poult
• smolt
• volte
• kilovolt
• landolt
• raoult

Kids Definition

volt

noun

ˈvōlt

: a unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to the difference in potential between two points in a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the power used between these two points is equal to one watt

Medical Definition

volt

noun

ˈvōlt 

1

: the practical mks unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to the difference of potential between two points in a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the power dissipated between these two points is equal to one watt and equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of one ohm when one ampere is flowing through it

2

: a unit of electrical potential difference and electromotive force equal to 1.00034 volts and formerly taken as the standard in the United States