solar cell

noun

: a photovoltaic cell used as a power source

Examples of solar cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web During the day, electricity from the local grid, some produced by nearby fields of solar cells, is used to compress the carbon dioxide into liquid. Amos Zeeberg, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Regardless of the tip over, the sun will drop below the horizon at the landing site in a little more than one week, ending power generation by the lander's solar cells. William Harwood, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024 Japan’s space agency had hoped light might reach the spacecraft’s solar cells as the sun’s angle on the moon shifted, allowing the vehicle to reawaken. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 This flexible material functions as an insulator, integrating a solar cell outside the polyvinyl with an electrocaloric device underneath. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024 The most common solar cells use silicon to convert light to electricity. IEEE Spectrum, 1 Aug. 2023 The direction at which sunlight hits the moon changes every month, so the sunlight could later hit the solar cells and recharge the batteries, officials said. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Jan. 2024 When exposed to sunlight, the solar cell did exactly what it was expected to by turning sunlight into electrical energy. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024 Sunlight contains many wavelengths that silicon solar cells cannot use efficiently. Tracy H. Schloemer, IEEE Spectrum, 19 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'solar cell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar cell was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near solar cell

Cite this Entry

“Solar cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20cell. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

solar cell

noun
: a photoelectric cell that converts sunlight into electrical energy and is used as a power source

More from Merriam-Webster on solar cell

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