Tesla coil

noun

variants or Tesla transformer
: an air-core transformer for high-frequency alternating or oscillating electrical currents

Examples of Tesla coil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At the top there’s Griffith Observatory, where a Tesla coil spits electricity and telescope demonstrator Todd Kunioka guides visitors through the cosmos. Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2024 Later, partygoers will take turns standing inside a Faraday cage as a Tesla coil sparks before them like crazy. Cathy Alter, WIRED, 27 Aug. 2023 Tesla was a renowned Serbian-American inventor who created the Tesla coil, engineered the first hydroelectric plant, pioneered the use of the alternating current, and laid the foundation for our modern power grid, among countless other inventions and scientific contributions. Jessica Coulon, Popular Mechanics, 14 June 2023 Pulses arc at random from Tesla coils submerged in a pool of mineral oil, zapping at the bulbs from below. Travis Diehl, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2023 Fascinated by inventor Nikola Tesla and his innovation of alternating current electricity, Asher Suderow decided to build a Tesla coil himself, and persuaded his dad and grandfather to help. Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 21 Sep. 2022 His Tesla coil still shapes modern innovation. Tim Grierson, Popular Mechanics, 11 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Tesla coil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

after Nikola Tesla †1943 American (Croatian-born) electrician and inventor

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Tesla coil was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near Tesla coil

Cite this Entry

“Tesla coil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tesla%20coil. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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