solar cell

noun

: a photovoltaic cell used as a power source

Examples of solar cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web China is now the world’s largest producer of solar cells. Christopher Rugaber, Fortune Asia, 8 Apr. 2024 Even if Beijing were to yield to foreign pressure and make concerted efforts to restrict investments in electric vehicles and batteries, solar cells, and other industries, the companies and manufacturing facilities that benefited from earlier government subsidies would not disappear. Daniel H. Rosen, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Bell Labs went on to invent the practical solar cell in the 1950s. Nicholas Wyman, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The solar cells and batteries planned to accompany them would be at risk for catastrophic fires that country firefighters would be unable to contain. USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024 This tandem approach increases the spectrum of sunlight the solar cell can harvest. IEEE Spectrum, 12 July 2023 During the day, electricity from the local grid, some produced by nearby fields of solar cells, is used to compress the carbon dioxide into liquid. Amos Zeeberg, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Regardless of the tip over, the sun will drop below the horizon at the landing site in a little more than one week, ending power generation by the lander's solar cells. William Harwood, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024 Japan’s space agency had hoped light might reach the spacecraft’s solar cells as the sun’s angle on the moon shifted, allowing the vehicle to reawaken. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'solar cell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar cell was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near solar cell

Cite this Entry

“Solar cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20cell. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

solar cell

noun
: a photoelectric cell that converts sunlight into electrical energy and is used as a power source

More from Merriam-Webster on solar cell

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