pyroelectricityn.
/ˌpʌɪrəʊᵻˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/, /ˌpʌɪrəʊˌɛlɛkˈtrɪsᵻti/, U.S. /ˈˌpaɪroʊəˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻdi/, /ˈˌpaɪroʊiˌlɛkˈtrɪsᵻdi/; see also electricity n. Physics.
The property displayed by certain crystalline substances of becoming electrically polar when heated, i.e., of exhibiting positive and negative charges at opposite ends of a crystal (the effects being reversed on cooling).
ΚΠ
1824 D. Brewster in Edinb. Jrnl. Sci. 1 211 In order to determine the existence of pyro-electricity in minerals where it had little intensity, [etc.].
1895 N. Story-Maskelyne Crystallogr. vii. §190 Pyro-electricity..has no place in the case of the pyritoid minerals.
1956 Nature 17 Mar. 537/2 Tests for pyroelectricity and piezoelectricity were negative.
2004 R. McCormmach Speculative Truth vii. 137 The analogy between tourmaline and magnetism, with its singular property, suggests a reason why Cavendish omitted pyroelectricity from his theory of heat.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1824- defaunate
- defaunated
- defaunation
- defcon
- defcon 1
- defeasable
- defeasableness
- defeasance
- defeasance clause
- defeasance provision
- defeasance transaction
- defeasances
- defease
- defeasibilities
- defeasibility
- defeasible
- defeasibleness
- defeasiblenesses
- defeasibly
- defeat
- defeat the etc
- defeat the object
- defeat the purpose
- defeatable
- defeatance