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Glite Dictionary
piezoelectric

piezoelectric

1 9.9
A material or device that makes electricity when pressed
  • adjective
  • /ˌpiː.ɛ.zoʊ.ɪˈlɛk.trɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : piezoeléctrico
  • In the lab, we tested various piezoelectric devices to see how efficiently they responded to pressure.
  • piezoelectric actuators
  • piezoelectric accelerometer
  • piezoelectric transducer

So will our piezoelectric fan be a suitable replacement?

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Examples

  • The fork-shaped sensors contain two piezoelectric crystals; one acts as the ultrasonic transmitter, the other as a receiver.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The aileron controlled the rate of turn, which was measured with a piezoelectric gyro.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The sensor has a silicon diaphragm using the piezoelectric effect to sense pressure.

    Academic text (1994)

  • To make the device more sensitive, a piezoelectric transducer is connected to the fiber coil.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The bioengineers have developed lightweight prototype piezoelectric ultrasound sensors capable of detecting a microcrack up to five inches away.

    Academic text (2007)

  • According to Stefan Vorndran, PI's director of corporate product marketing and communications, piezoelectric actuation is used in atomic force microscopes.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Systron Donner has developed a piezoelectric quartz rate gyroscope that has tuning forks as drive and pickup units.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Endevco's 2256AM2 is a piezoelectric, voltage-mode accelerometer for measuring vibrations at cryogenic temperatures.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The Endevco model 2228C is a rugged low-mass triaxial piezoelectric accelerometer designed to suit a variety of general vibration testing requirements.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The scientists developed a new piezoelectric material that generates electricity when compressed.

Synonyms

piezo
vspiezoelectric
  • Specialized
9.9

Made from materials that make electricity when you press them

is the full technical term rather than the shorter written form

Compounds

piezoelectric effect
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A feature of some crystals that makes electricity when pressed or makes them change shape when charged

piezoelectric crystal
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A crystal that makes electricity when pressed or bent

piezoelectric material
  • Specialized
8.3

A material that makes electricity when you press or bend it

Surface Forms

piezoelectric positive

Morphology

piezoelectric = electric (opaque) = piezo + electric

The word is formally built from piezo- plus electric, but the specialized scientific meaning is not directly guessable for an average learner from those parts alone.

Etymology

The word piezoelectric combines Greek piezo- meaning 'to press' and electric, which relates to 'electricity'. So a piezoelectric material creates an electric charge when you press or squeeze it, which is why it is used in sensors and microphones.