watt

¹ American

[wot] / wɒt /

noun

the standard unit of power in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one joule per second and equal to the power in a circuit in which a current of one ampere flows across a potential difference of one volt. W, w.

Watt ² American

[wot] / wɒt /

noun

James, 1736–1819, Scottish engineer and inventor.

Watt ¹ British

/ wɒt /

noun

James. 1736–1819, Scottish engineer and inventor. His fundamental improvements to the steam engine led to the widespread use of steam power in industry

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

watt ² British

/ wɒt /

noun

W. the derived SI unit of power, equal to 1 joule per second; the power dissipated by a current of 1 ampere flowing across a potential difference of 1 volt. 1 watt is equivalent to 1.341 × 10 ^–3 horsepower

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

watt ¹ Scientific

/ wŏt /

The SI derived unit used to measure power, equal to one joule per second. In electricity, a watt is equal to current (in amperes) multiplied by voltage (in volts).

Watt ² Scientific

British engineer and inventor who patented a much improved version of the steam engine (1769) and devised the unit of horsepower. The watt unit of power is named for him.

watt Cultural

The basic unit of power, named after the eighteenth-century Scottish inventor James Watt.

Etymology

Origin of watt

First recorded in 1882; named after J. Watt

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In an environment where every watt of power counts, the fate of the Pennsylvania data center will almost certainly be a point of discussion in next Thursday’s earnings call.

From Barron's

Stirring the pot even more, Stolz did an interview around last summer’s Tour de France in which he stated his top-end power—his generated output, measured in watts—reached 2,100 to 2,300 watts.

From The Wall Street Journal

If your water kettle is 1,500 watts, you would need a battery that’s rated for at least 1,500-watt output.

From The Wall Street Journal

After the initial investment, a heated blanket can save you money on your energy bills, too, typically using 50 to 150 watts per person.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Sunshine" is recorded when the strength of the Sun is at least 120 watts per square metre.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023