noun
coulomb
KOO-lom
Coulomb (noun) means the unit used to measure electric charge in the International System of Units, equal to the charge carried by a current of one ampere in one second. Example: “The capacitor stored a charge of two coulombs.”
noun
1
The unit used to measure electric charge in the International System of Units, equal to the charge carried by a current of one ampere in one second.
"The capacitor stored a charge of two coulombs."
"A current of one ampere moves one coulomb of charge past a point each second."
"The physics test asked us to work out how many coulombs had flowed through the wire."
How to use coulomb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe standard unit for measuring electric charge.
When to use it
It is a technical term used in physics and electrical engineering.
Memory tip
The unit is written with a lower-case c in full but abbreviated to a capital C.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
one coulomb
a coulomb of charge
charge in coulombs
measured in coulombs
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The capacitor stored a charge of two _____.
Etymology
English took the word from French, where it was named after the French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb.
Synonyms
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C
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is a coulomb?
A coulomb is the unit of electric charge in the International System of Units. It is the amount of charge carried by a current of one ampere flowing for one second.
What is the symbol for coulomb?
The symbol for the coulomb is a capital C.
Who was the coulomb named after?
It was named after the French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb.
What is the meaning of coulomb?
"coulomb" (noun) means the unit used to measure electric charge in the International System of Units, equal to the charge carried by a current of one ampere in one second.
