Definition

Noun: A car battery is a rechargeable lead-acid battery that provides the electrical power necessary to start a vehicle's engine and to run its electrical components when the engine is not running. It is typically a 12-volt battery composed of six cells and is a fundamental part of a vehicle's electrical system.

Usage

The term "car battery" is used to refer specifically to the battery unit in an automobile. It is a countable noun. * You need to replace the car battery every few years. * The mechanic tested the car battery and found it was dead. * A car battery provides the initial spark to start the engine.

Advanced Usage

• "The heart of the electrical system": This is a common metaphorical description emphasizing the car battery's critical role, as it supplies power to all other electrical components.
  • Always check the car battery first; it's the heart of the car's electrical system.
• In technical contexts, specifications like Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and reserve capacity are discussed in relation to a car battery.

Variants and Related Words

• Automotive battery: A more formal or technical synonym for "car battery."
• Storage battery: A general term for a battery that can be recharged, which includes a car battery.
• Lead-acid battery: Describes the specific chemical technology used in most car batteries.
• 12-volt battery: Specifies the standard electrical output, which is a key characteristic of a car battery.

Synonyms

• Automotive battery
• Vehicle battery

Related Phrases

• Jump-start a car battery: To start a car with a dead battery by using power from another vehicle's battery.
  • I had to use jumper cables to jump-start the car battery.
• Battery terminal: The electrical contacts on a car battery where cables are connected.
• Battery acid: The sulfuric acid electrolyte solution inside a lead-acid car battery.

Noun

1. a lead-acid storage battery in a motor vehicle; usually a 12-volt battery of six cells; the heart of the car's electrical system