photoelectric

P3H4O1T1O1E1L1E1C3T1R1I1C3

adjective

Of or relating to the electric effects of electromagnetic radiation, especially the ejection of an electron from a surface by a photon.

Similar
photoelectrical
OriginEnglish electric ← New Latin ēlectricus ← Latin ēlectrum →
Less commonScrabble 22
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Meanings

adjectivephotoelectric (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf or relating to the electric effects of electromagnetic radiation, especially the ejection of an electron from a surface by a photon.

    Photo-electric beams in advance of each section enable automatic operation of the plant.

    1963 January, “Diesel washing machine at Ipswich”, in Modern Railways, page 12

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveof or pertaining to photoelectricity

Similar
photoelectrical
Also see
photoelectricalphotovoltaic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

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. Ancient Greekἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron)
  9. Latinēlectrum
  10. New Latinēlectricus
  11. Englishelectric
  12. Englishphotoelectric

From photo- + electric.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan fotoelèctric
  • fotoelèctricrelating to electric effects
Czech fotoelektrický
  • fotoelektrickýrelating to electric effects
Dutch foto-elektrisch
  • foto-elektrischrelating to electric effects
Finnish valosähköinen
  • valosähköinenrelating to electric effects
French photoélectrique
  • photoélectriquerelating to electric effects
Greek φωτοηλεκτρικός
  • φωτοηλεκτρικός (fotoïlektrikós)relating to electric effects
Irish fótaileictreach
  • fótaileictreachrelating to electric effects
Italian fotoelettrico
  • fotoelettricorelating to electric effects
Malay fotoelektrik
  • fotoelektrikrelating to electric effects
Polish fotoelektryczny
  • fotoelektrycznyrelating to electric effects
Portuguese fotoelétrico
  • fotoelétricorelating to electric effects
Romanian fotoelectric
  • fotoelectricrelating to electric effects
Russian фотоэлектрический
  • фотоэлектрический (fotoelektričeskij)relating to electric effects
Spanish fotoeléctrico
  • fotoeléctricorelating to electric effects
Tagalog sugadagitbin
  • sugadagitbinrelating to electric effects
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: photoelectric on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.