the production of electricity or electric polarity by applying a mechanical stress to certain crystals
b.
the converse effect in which stress is produced in a crystal as a result of an applied potential difference
piezoelectric effect in American English
Electronics
the property of certain crystals of generating a voltage when subjected to pressure and, conversely, of undergoing mechanical stress when subjected to an electric field (e.g., alternately expanding and contracting in response to an alternating electric field), as in crystal oscillators, microphones, etc.