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Glite Dictionary
selenium cell

selenium cell

8.1
A small device that turns light into electricity using selenium
  • noun
  • /səˈliːniəm sɛl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : célula de selenio
  • A selenium cell changes the intensity of light into a corresponding electrical signal.

Examples

  • Engineers replaced the faulty selenium cell in the exposure meter to restore its sensitivity.

  • The museum displayed an old selenium cell used in early light meters.

  • The selenium cell generates electricity from sunlight.

  • Many selenium cells are used in solar panels today.

  • The selenium cell generates electricity from sunlight.

  • Engineers replaced the faulty selenium cell in the exposure meter to restore its sensitivity.

  • The museum displayed an old selenium cell used in early light meters.

Synonyms

photovoltaic cell
vsselenium cell
  • Specialized
2 4.6

A device that changes sunlight into electricity

is similar but uses a particular material strip instead of semiconductor technology
photoconductive cell
vsselenium cell
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A small device that lets more electricity pass when light hits it

is a form that generates electrical energy rather than only changing resistance
photoelectric cell
vsselenium cell
  • Specialized
4.6

A device that makes a small electric signal when light hits it to detect or measure light

is a specific form using a particular material strip for conversion

Surface Forms

selenium cell singular
selenium cells plural

Morphology

selenium + cell

The compound is compositionally built from the element 'selenium' and the device 'cell', so a learner who knows those meanings can infer it is a cell/device that uses selenium to produce electricity (in this case photoelectric conversion). Although somewhat technical, the relation is literal and follows normal noun + noun naming patterns, making the sense directly derivable.

Etymology

Selenium cell comes from old light meters that used a thin strip of the element selenium inside a small cell; when light hit the strip it made an electric signal. That's why a selenium cell means 'a device that changes light into electrical energy'.