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Glite Dictionary
picovolt

picovolt

9.3
A very small unit of electric voltage equal to one trillionth of a volt
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪkəˌvoʊlt/
  • Specialized
: picovolt
  • The signal measured only a few picovolts, requiring extremely sensitive equipment to detect.

Examples

  • The sensor can detect changes as small as one picovolt.

  • Researchers detected fluctuations as small as tens of picovolts during the experiment.

  • Voltage changes in the brain can be as subtle as single-digit picovolts.

  • Did you measure one picovolt?

  • Researchers detected fluctuations as small as tens of picovolts during the experiment.

  • The signal measured only a few picovolts, requiring extremely sensitive equipment to detect.

  • The sensor can detect changes as small as one picovolt.

Surface Forms

picovolt singular
picovolts plural

Morphology

picovolt = volt (transparent) = pico + volt

The prefix 'pico-' denotes a factor of 10⁻¹², making the meaning of 'picovolt' clear as a trillionth of a volt.

Etymology

Picovolt joins the small prefix pico- meaning 'one trillionth' and volt, the common unit for electrical potential. So, a picovolt is a very tiny part of a volt and is used to talk about extremely small voltages.