Electroplaque

/ɪˈlɛktrəˌpleɪk/ noun

Definition

A structure found in electric organs of certain fish that generates electrical discharges by creating a voltage difference across specialized tissues.

Etymology

From electro- (electricity) combined with plaque, which comes from Old French plaque meaning a flat piece or plate. The term refers to the plate-like arrangement of cells that work together to produce electrical charges.

Kelly Says

Electric eels and rays have stacked electroplaques like biological batteries in series, with each layer adding more voltage until they can generate powerful shocks—nature invented the electrical circuit millions of years before humans did!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.