Kiloampere

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. This term refers to a unit that quantifies electric current at a value of one thousand times the standard unit of amperes
2. A unit representing electric current that is equal to one thousand amperes is denoted by this term
3. This expression signifies a measurement of electric current equivalent to one thousand units of amperes

Etymology: Named for André-Marie Ampère, the French physicist whose work on electromagnetism made the ampere the standard unit of electric current, the kiloampere is simply that unit multiplied by a thousand. The ampere was itself named in his honour, so this term stacks a prefix onto a surname-derived unit. The prefix "kilo-" comes from the Greek "khilioi", meaning "thousand", and entered English through French as a scientific prefix, the same familiar element that appears in kilometre and kilogram. Combining it with "ampere" follows the standard metric pattern for building larger units, and the word is a straightforward compound with no change in sense from its parts.