ampere Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a former unit of electric current (slightly smaller than the SI ampere)
    international ampere.
  2. noun the basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
    A; amp.
    • a typical household circuit carries 15 to 50 amps

WordNet

Am`père", Am*pere" noun (Also<
  • Ampère
  • Ampere
)
Etymology
From the name of a French electrician.
Definitions
  1. (Elec.) The unit of electric current; -- defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by U. S. Statute as, one tenth of the unit of current of the C. G. S. system of electro-magnetic units, or the practical equivalent of the unvarying current which, when passed through a standard solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second. Called also the international ampère.

Webster 1913