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voltaic |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Voltaic \Vol*ta"ic\, a. [Cf. F. volta["i]que, It voltaico.] 1. Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action and established this branch of electric science; discovered by Volta; as voltaic electricity. 2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as voltaic induction; the voltaic arc. Note: See the Note under {Galvanism}. {Voltaic arc}, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed between carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a powerful voltaic current. {Voltaic battery}, an apparatus variously constructed, consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and subjected to the action of a saline or acid solution, by which a current of electricity is generated whenever the two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a conductor; a galvanic battery. See {Battery}, 4. (b), and Note. {Voltaic circuit}. See under {Circuit}. {Voltaic couple} or {element}, a single pair of the connected plates of a battery. {Voltaic electricity}. See the Note under {Electricity}. {Voltaic pile}, a kind of voltaic battery consisting of alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by moistened cloth or paper. See 5th {Pile}. {Voltaic protection of metals}, the protection of a metal exposed to the corrosive action of sea water, saline or acid liquids, or the like by associating it with a metal which is positive to it as when iron is galvanized, or coated with zinc. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Circle \Cir"cle\ (s[~e]r"k'l), n. [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr L. circulus (Whence also AS circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr kri`kos, ki`rkos, circle, ring. Cf {Circus}, {Circum-}.] 1. A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its circumference, every part of which is equally distant from a point within it called the center. 2. The line that bounds such a figure; a circumference; a ring. 3. (Astron.) An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle. Note: When it is fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a {mural circle}; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a {meridian or transit circle}; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a {reflecting circle}; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a {repeating circle}. 4. A round body; a sphere; an orb. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth. --Is. xi 22. 5. Compass; circuit; inclosure. In the circle of this forest. --Shak. 6. A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of society; a coterie; a set As his name gradually became known the circle of his acquaintance widened. --Macaulay. 7. A circular group of persons; a ring. 8. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain. --Dryden. 9. (Logic) A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other inconclusive reasoning. That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and again that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and teaches nothing. --Glanvill. 10. Indirect form of words circumlocution. [R.] Has he given the lie, In circle, or oblique, or semicircle. --J. Fletcher. 11. A territorial division or district. Note: {The Circles of the Holy Roman Empire}, ten in number, were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet. {Azimuth circle}. See under {Azimuth}. {Circle of altitude} (Astron.), a circle parallel to the horizon, having its pole in the zenith; an almucantar. {Circle of curvature}. See {Osculating circle of a curve} (Below). {Circle of declination}. See under {Declination}. {Circle of latitude}. a (Astron.) A great circle perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, passing through its poles. b (Spherical Projection) A small circle of the sphere whose plane is perpendicular to the axis. {Circles of longitude}, lesser circles parallel to the ecliptic, diminishing as they recede from it {Circle of perpetual apparition}, at any given place the boundary of that space around the elevated pole, within which the stars never set Its distance from the pole is equal to the latitude of the place {Circle of perpetual occultation}, at any given place the boundary of the space around the depressed pole, within which the stars never rise. {Circle of the sphere}, a circle upon the surface of the sphere, called a great circle when its plane passes through the center of the sphere; in all other cases, a small circle. {Diurnal circle}. See under {Diurnal}. {Dress circle}, a gallery in a theater, generally the one containing the prominent and more expensive seats. {Druidical circles} (Eng. Antiq.), a popular name for certain ancient inclosures formed by rude stones circularly arranged, as at Stonehenge, near Salisbury. {Family circle}, a gallery in a theater, usually one containing inexpensive seats. {Horary circles} (Dialing), the lines on dials which show the hours. {Osculating circle of a curve} (Geom.), the circle which touches the curve at some point in the curve, and close to the point more nearly coincides with the curve than any other circle. This circle is used as a measure of the curvature of the curve at the point, and hence is called circle of curvature. {Pitch circle}. See under {Pitch}. {Vertical circle}, an azimuth circle. {Voltaic} {circle or circuit}. See under {Circuit}. {To square the circle}. See under {Square}. Syn: Ring; circlet; compass; circuit; inclosure. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: voltaic adj : (electricity) pertaining to or producing electric current by chemical action "a galvanic cell"; "a voltaic (or galvanic) couple" [syn: {galvanic}] n : a group of Niger-Congo languages spoken primarily in SE Mali and N Ghana [syn: {Gur}, {Voltaic}]
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