galvanic pile

galvanic pile
    n 1: battery consisting of voltaic cells arranged in series; the
         earliest electric battery devised by Volta [syn: {voltaic
         pile}, {pile}, {galvanic pile}]
    

Galvanic \Gal*van"ic\, a. [From Galvani, a professor of
   physiology at Bologna, on account of his connection (about
   1780) with the discovery of dynamical or current electricity:
   cf. F. galvanique.]
   Of or pertaining to, or exhibiting the phenomena of,
   galvanism; employing or producing electrical currents.
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   {Galvanic battery} (Elec.), an apparatus for generating
      electrical currents by the mutual action of certain
      liquids and metals; -- now usually called {voltaic
      battery}. See {Battery}.

   {Galvanic circuit} or {Galvanic circle}. (Elec.) See under
      {Circuit}.

   {Galvanic pile} (Elec.), the voltaic pile. See under
      {Voltaic}.
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Pile \Pile\, n. [F. pile, L. pila a pillar, a pier or mole of
   stone. Cf. {Pillar}.]
   1. A mass of things heaped together; a heap; as, a pile of
      stones; a pile of wood.
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   2. A mass formed in layers; as, a pile of shot.
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   3. A funeral pile; a pyre. --Dryden.
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   4. A large building, or mass of buildings.
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            The pile o'erlooked the town and drew the fight.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   5. (Iron Manuf.) Same as {Fagot}, n., 2.
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   6. (Elec.) A vertical series of alternate disks of two
      dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, laid up with disks
      of cloth or paper moistened with acid water between them,
      for producing a current of electricity; -- commonly called
      {Volta's pile}, {voltaic pile}, or {galvanic pile}.
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   Note: The term is sometimes applied to other forms of
         apparatus designed to produce a current of electricity,
         or as synonymous with battery; as, for instance, to an
         apparatus for generating a current of electricity by
         the action of heat, usually called a thermopile.
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   7. [F. pile pile, an engraved die, L. pila a pillar.] The
      reverse of a coin. See {Reverse}.
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   {Cross and pile}. See under {Cross}.

   {Dry pile}. See under {Dry}.
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