Meaning & use
voltage
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Meaning
nouncountable or uncountablephysics
The difference in electrical potential between two points, measured in volts, which drives current round a circuit.
Grammar: Uncountable in general use (high voltage), countable when comparing values: different voltages.
Patterns
- the voltage across something
- the voltage of something
The battery's voltage dropped as it ran down.
This charger supports a wide range of voltages.
Touching a wire at high voltage can be fatal.
Word forms
| plural | voltages |
|---|
Common combinations
- high voltage
- A sign warned of high voltage inside the cabinet.
- low voltage
- Low voltage lamps are safer in a garden.
- voltage drop
- A long cable causes a noticeable voltage drop.
- measure the voltage
- Use a multimeter to measure the voltage across the resistor.
- mains voltage
- Mains voltage differs between countries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- potential difference
- Potential difference is the term preferred in school physics, while voltage is the everyday and engineering word.
- tension
- Tension is an older electrical term, now seen mostly in phrases such as high-tension cables.
- electromotive force
- Electromotive force refers specifically to what a source such as a battery supplies, not to any voltage in a circuit.
Word family
Commonly confused: voltage or current?
voltage vs current
Current is the flow of charge, measured in amperes; voltage is the push that drives that flow.
Practice
A hose is a useful comparison for a circuit. Which part corresponds to voltage?
Choose one answer.
Voltage is the push, like pressure. The flow of water matches current, so the first option is the tempting wrong answer.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “voltage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.