farad

[ far-uhd, -ad ]

nounElectricity.
  1. the standard unit of capacitance in the International System of Units (SI), formally defined to be the capacitance of a capacitor between the plates of which there appears a potential difference of one volt when it is charged by a quantity of electricity equal to one coulomb. Symbol: F

Origin of farad

1
First recorded in 1860–65; named after M. Faraday

Words Nearby farad

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use farad in a sentence

  • The condensers used in the above experiment have a capacity of one microfarad, or one millionth of a farad.

    Physics | Willis Eugene Tower
  • farad, the practical unit of capacity for electricity, in the electromagnetic system of units.

  • Since the farad is far too large for practical purposes a millionth of a farad, or microfarad, whose symbol is mfd., is used.

    The Radio Amateur's Hand Book | A. Frederick Collins
  • As this unit is inconveniently large, for practical applications the unit microfarad—millionth of a farad—is employed.

  • The farad being inconveniently large for practical use, one-millionth of a farad, called a microfarad, is generally adopted.

British Dictionary definitions for farad

farad

/ (ˈfærəd, -æd) /


noun
  1. physics the derived SI unit of electric capacitance; the capacitance of a capacitor between the plates of which a potential of 1 volt is created by a charge of 1 coulomb: Symbol: F

Origin of farad

1
C19: named after Michael Faraday

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for farad

farad

[ fărəd ]


  1. The SI derived unit used to measure electric capacitance. A capacitor in which a stored charge of one coulomb provides an electric potential difference of one volt across its plates has a capacitance of one farad.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.