ENGLISH
REFERENCE

volts

n. plural-only
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈvoʊɫts// UK //vˈəʊlts// volts

n. the units used to measure how much electrical pressure or force is in a circuit. You see this number on batteries and light bulbs to know if they are safe to use.

n. the standard units of electromotive force or potential difference in the International System of Units. One unit represents the potential required to send one ampere of current through a resistance of one ohm.


SIMPLE

The battery provides twelve volts of power.

CONTEXTUAL

Standard household outlets in this country provide 230 volts, so you may need a converter for your foreign appliances.

COMPLEX

High-voltage transmission lines carry electricity at hundreds of thousands of volts to minimize energy loss over long distances before transformers step the pressure down for residential use.

Synonyms
Usage

Plural form of 'volt'; takes a plural verb and is typically preceded by a number.

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