photo-voltaic

A form of photovoltaic — Producing a voltage when exposed to light.

OriginEnglish voltaic ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
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Meanings

adjectivephoto-voltaic (not comparable)
  1. alternativenot comparableAlternative spelling of photovoltaic.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishvoltaic
  9. Englishphoto-voltaic

From photo- + voltaic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photo-voltaic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photo-voltaic

MLA

“photo-voltaic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photo-voltaic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photo-voltaic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photo-voltaic.

Source: photo-voltaic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.