\Vol*ta"ic\, a. [Cf. F. volta["i]que, It. voltaico.]
1. Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, who first devised
   apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical
   action, and established this branch of electric science;
   discovered by Volta; as, voltaic electricity.
2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as,
   voltaic induction; the voltaic arc.
Note: See the Note under {Galvanism}.
{Voltaic arc}, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed
   between carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a
   powerful voltaic current.
{Voltaic battery}, an apparatus variously constructed,
   consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar
   metals, as copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and
   subjected to the action of a saline or acid solution, by
   which a current of electricity is generated whenever the
   two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a
   conductor; a galvanic battery. See {Battery}, 4.
   (b), and Note.
{Voltaic circuit}. See under {Circuit}.
{Voltaic couple} or {element}, a single pair of the connected
   plates of a battery.
{Voltaic electricity}. See the Note under {Electricity}.
{Voltaic pile}, a kind of voltaic battery consisting of
   alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by
   moistened cloth or paper. See 5th {Pile}.
{Voltaic protection of metals}, the protection of a metal
   exposed to the corrosive action of sea water, saline or
   acid liquids, or the like, by associating it with a metal
   which is positive to it, as when iron is galvanized, or
   coated with zinc.