voltaic couple

Voltaic \Vol*ta"ic\, a. [Cf. F. volta["i]que, It. voltaico.]
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   1. Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, who first devised
      apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical
      action, and established this branch of electric science;
      discovered by Volta; as, voltaic electricity.
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   2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as,
      voltaic induction; the voltaic arc.
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   Note: See the Note under {Galvanism}.
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   {Voltaic arc}, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed
      between carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a
      powerful voltaic current.

   {Voltaic battery}, an apparatus variously constructed,
      consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar
      metals, as copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and
      subjected to the action of a saline or acid solution, by
      which a current of electricity is generated whenever the
      two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a
      conductor; a galvanic battery. See {Battery}, 4.
      (b), and Note.

   {Voltaic circuit}. See under {Circuit}.

   {Voltaic couple} or {Voltaic element}, a single pair of the
      connected plates of a battery.

   {Voltaic electricity}. See the Note under {Electricity}.

   {Voltaic pile}, a kind of voltaic battery consisting of
      alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by
      moistened cloth or paper. See 5th {Pile}.

   {Voltaic protection of metals}, the protection of a metal
      exposed to the corrosive action of sea water, saline or
      acid liquids, or the like, by associating it with a metal
      which is positive to it, as when iron is galvanized, or
      coated with zinc.
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Couple \Cou"ple\ (k[u^]p"'l), n. [F. couple, fr. L. copula a
   bond, band; co- + apere, aptum, to join. See {Art}, a., and
   cf. {Copula}.]
   1. That which joins or links two things together; a bond or
      tie; a coupler. [Obs.]
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            It is in some sort with friends as it is with dogs
            in couples; they should be of the same size and
            humor.                                --L'Estrange.
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            I'll go in couples with her.          --Shak.
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   2. Two of the same kind connected or considered together; a
      pair; a brace. "A couple of shepherds." --Sir P. Sidney.
      "A couple of drops" --Addison. "A couple of miles."
      --Dickens. "A couple of weeks." --Carlyle.
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            Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a
            couple.                               --Locke.
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            [Ziba] met him with a couple of asses saddled. --2
                                                  Sam. xvi. 1.
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   3. A male and female associated together; esp., a man and
      woman who are married or betrothed.
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            Such were our couple, man and wife.   --Lloyd.
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            Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league.
                                                  --Milton.
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   4. (Arch.) See {Couple-close}.
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   5. (Elec.) One of the pairs of plates of two metals which
      compose a voltaic battery; -- called a {voltaic couple} or
      {galvanic couple}.
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   6. (Mech.) Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in
      amount but opposite in direction, and acting along
      parallel lines or around parallel axes.
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   Note: The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a
         rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a
         motion of translation.
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