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fuel cell

fuel cell

32 4.5
A device that makes electricity from hydrogen and oxygen
  • noun
  • /fjul sɛl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pila de combustible
  • Operation of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle would emit only water and no local pollutants.
  • PEM fuel cell
  • hydrogen fuel cell
  • solid-oxide fuel cell

There is reason to think that one day we will move to hydrogen fuel cell cars.

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Examples

  • Of the primary uses for a fuel cell, the automobile application is the most difficult.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Several projects are underway that promise to drive the long-awaited fuel cell into mainstream applications.

    Academic text (1994)
  • And a new fuel cell is not going to fix that.

  • We're trying for another fuel cell.

  • Give me all six fuel cells.

  • We'll need to replace these spent fuel cells.

  • There is reason to think that one day we will move to hydrogen fuel cell cars.

  • Toyota says, "Fuel cell cars, 30 years away."

  • The emerging technology of fuel cells is rising to meet the challenge.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The command and service module was powered by three fuel cells that generated electricity by mixing hydrogen and oxygen.

Synonyms

battery
vsfuel cell
  • Specialized
691 2.9

A device that produces electricity to power machines and tools

uses an external fuel and oxidant reaction instead of internal stored chemicals
cell
vsfuel cell
  • Specialized
148 3.9

A small device inside a battery that makes electricity

uses a fuel and external oxidant rather than fixed internal chemicals
electric battery
vsfuel cell
1 3.0

A device that stores electricity to power things like remote controls

relies on continuous external fuel and oxidant supply rather than linked stored units
electric cell
vsfuel cell
4.0

A small device that makes electricity when its chemicals change

depends on an external fuel and oxidant source rather than stored chemicals
voltaic cell
vsfuel cell
  • Specialized
6.7

A device that makes electricity from a reaction between two metals and cannot be charged again

operates using a supplied fuel and oxidant instead of sealed electrode chemicals
galvanic cell
vsfuel cell
  • Specialized
7.0

A device that makes electricity when chemicals react and cannot be recharged

runs on a continuous fuel and oxidant flow rather than sealed nonrechargeable parts
galvanic battery
vsfuel cell
  • Specialized
7.4

A set of cells that make electricity when chemicals react

is designed to generate power from an ongoing fuel and oxidant reaction instead

Surface Forms

fuel cell singular
fuel cells plural

Morphology

fuel + cell

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'fuel' (material used to produce energy) and 'cell' (a unit/device producing electricity), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a unit that generates electricity using a fuel. This is a regular, non-idiomatic noun–noun compound common across languages; while full technical details require domain knowledge, the basic sense is immediately comprehensible.

Etymology

Fuel cell comes from a simple picture: a small cell where fuel and oxygen meet and make electricity, like a tiny power factory. That's why it means 'a device' that makes electricity from fuel.