noun
Uncommon
tesla
TEHS-luh
Tesla (noun) means the SI unit for measuring the strength of a magnetic field. Example: “An MRI scanner typically operates at around 1.5 tesla.”
noun
1
The SI unit for measuring the strength of a magnetic field.
"An MRI scanner typically operates at around 1.5 tesla."
"The magnetic field near the machine was measured at a fraction of one tesla."
"Physics students learned that one tesla is a very strong magnetic field."
2
A car made by the electric-vehicle company of the same name.
"He drove his Tesla to work every day to save on fuel."
"The new Tesla can travel over 300 miles on a single charge."
How to use tesla
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the unit scientists use for magnetic field strength, or the electric car brand named after the same inventor.
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Word forms
- Plural
- teslas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
An MRI scanner typically operates at around 1.5 _____.
Etymology
Named after the Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), whose pioneering work on electromagnetism and alternating current lent his name to both the physics unit and, later, the car brand.
Frequently asked questions
What does “tesla” mean?
The word “tesla” means the SI unit for measuring the strength of a magnetic field. In plain terms, either the unit scientists use for magnetic field strength, or the electric car brand named after the same inventor.
How do you pronounce “tesla”?
“Tesla” is pronounced TEHS-luh (/ˈtɛslə/ in IPA).
How do you use “tesla” in a sentence?
Here is “tesla” used in a sentence: “An MRI scanner typically operates at around 1.5 tesla.”
What part of speech is “tesla”?
“Tesla” is a noun.
Where does the word “tesla” come from?
The word “tesla” dates back to around 1856. Named after the Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), whose pioneering work on electromagnetism and alternating current lent his name to both the physics unit and, later, the car brand.
Is “tesla” a common word?
“Tesla” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tesla” have?
“Tesla” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the SI unit for measuring the strength of a magnetic field.
What is the difference between a tesla the unit and Tesla the car brand?
A tesla (lowercase) is the SI unit used to measure the strength of a magnetic field, named in honour of the field of electromagnetism. Tesla (capitalized) also refers to a car made by the electric-vehicle company of the same name, and the two share a name but are otherwise unrelated in everyday use.
When would you use "tesla" as a unit of measurement?
Tesla as a unit is used in physics and engineering to describe magnetic field strength, such as in MRI machines or electromagnets, where field strength is often given in teslas or fractions of a tesla. It is part of the SI system of measurement used internationally in scientific contexts.
Is "Tesla" capitalized when referring to the car?
Yes, when referring to the electric-vehicle company or its cars, Tesla is capitalized as a proper noun, while the unit of magnetic field strength is written lowercase as "tesla." This distinguishes the brand name from the scientific unit despite the identical spelling.
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