power dissipation

noun

The process in which an electric or electronic device produces heat (or other waste energy) as an unwanted byproduct of its primary action.

“Central processing unit power dissipation is a central concern in computer architecture.”

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Meanings

nounpower dissipation (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe process in which an electric or electronic device produces heat (or other waste energy) as an unwanted byproduct of its primary action.

    Central processing unit power dissipation is a central concern in computer architecture.

Origin

power (“electric power”) + dissipation (“loss of energy (usually as heat) from a dynamic system”)

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish tehohäviö, tehonhukka
  • tehohäviöwaste of power as heat
  • tehonhukkawaste of power as heat
German Leistungsaufnahme
  • Leistungsaufnahmewaste of power as heat
Cite this entry
APA

power dissipation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20dissipation

MLA

“power dissipation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20dissipation. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “power dissipation,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20dissipation.

Source: power dissipation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.