primary cell
primary cell — noun
1. a type of battery that produces electricity through a chemical reaction that can
a type of battery that produces electricity through a chemical reaction that cannot be reversed, so it cannot be recharged and must be replaced once the chemicals inside it are used up
The TV remote uses two AA primary cells; they cannot be recharged after running out.
countable noun with size specifier: two AA primary cells
Greta told her class that a primary cell stops working when the chemicals run out.
Samir checked whether the battery was a primary cell or a rechargeable one.
Many electronic toys use primary cells; remove them when the toy is not in use.
Bao bought a box of primary cells for the smoke detector; they last many months.
- disposable battery
more common in everyday speech; emphasises that the battery is thrown away after use
- non-rechargeable battery
purely descriptive; often used on product packaging and safety warnings
- dry cell
technically a specific type of primary cell, but used informally as a general term for any non-rechargeable battery
- secondary cell
the formal technical term for a rechargeable battery
- rechargeable battery
the everyday term for a battery that can be used again after charging
文法句型
primary cell + verb (e.g. produces, runs out)
pack of + primary cells
size + primary cell (e.g. AA primary cell)
用法筆記
Distinguish from a secondary cell (rechargeable battery), which uses a reversible chemical reaction and can be recharged after use. In everyday conversation, most people simply say 'battery' rather than 'primary cell'.