Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Voltaic \Vol*ta"ic\, a. [Cf. F. volta["i]que, It. voltaico.]
   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.

   2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as,
      voltaic induction; the voltaic arc.

   Note: See the Note under {Galvanism}.

   {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 {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.

Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Electricities}. [Cf. F.
   ['e]lectricit['e]. See {Electric}.]
   1. A power in nature, a manifestation of energy, exhibiting
      itself when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a
      circuit movement, the fact of direction in which involves
      polarity, or opposition of properties in opposite
      directions; also, by attraction for many substances, by a
      law involving attraction between surfaces of unlike
      polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by
      exhibiting accumulated polar tension when the circuit is
      broken; and by producing heat, light, concussion, and
      often chemical changes when the circuit passes between the
      poles or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
      space. It is generally brought into action by any
      disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a
      chemical, physical, or mechanical, cause.

   Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
         forms: (a)

   {Statical electricity}, called also

   {Frictional or Common}, {electricity}, electricity in the
      condition of a stationary charge, in which the disturbance
      is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by
      induction. (b)

   {Dynamical electricity}, called also

   {Voltaic electricity}, electricity in motion, or as a current
      produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
      voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
      dynamo-electric machines. (c)

   {Thermoelectricity}, in which the disturbing cause is heat
      (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
      developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
      and then heating the bar unequally. (d)

   {Atmospheric electricity}, any condition of electrical
      disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
      all of the above mentioned causes. (e)

   {Magnetic electricity}, electricity developed by the action
      of magnets. (f)

   {Positive electricity}, the electricity that appears at the
      positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
      by friction of glass; -- called also {vitreous
      electricity}. (g)

   {Negative electricity}, the electricity that appears at the
      negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
      of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
      electricity. (h)

   {Organic electricity}, that which is developed in organic
      structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
      electricity being much more common.

   2. The science which unfolds the phenomena and laws of
      electricity; electrical science.

   3. Fig.: Electrifying energy or characteristic.