gilbert

gilbert — noun

1. A unit in the older CGS system of measurement that tells how strong a magnetic f

1.nounC2
Definition

A unit in the older CGS system of measurement that tells how strong a magnetic field is produced by an electric current. One gilbert equals about 0.8 times the force produced by one ampere flowing through one turn of wire in the modern SI system.

Example

Professor Chen asked the class to calculate the magnetic force in gilberts.

measured in gilberts — unit-of-measurement pattern

The old physics textbook still used gilberts instead of the modern ampere-turn.

number + gilberts — countable unit noun

Common collocations
  • measured in gilberts
  • X gilberts of magnetomotive force
  • convert from gilberts to
Synonyms
  • ampere-turn

    the modern SI unit that has replaced the gilbert in most contexts; 1 gilbert ≈ 0.8 At

Grammar Patterns

number + gilberts

measured in gilberts

Usage Note

Now largely historical; modern physics and engineering use the SI unit ampere-turn (At) instead. The unit is named after the English scientist William Gilbert.

Common Mistakes

The magnet had a force of 5 gilberts per square centimetre.
The magnet had a force of 5 gilberts.
Gilberts measure total magnetomotive force, not force per area; that would be gauss or oersted.

2. A city in the southwestern United States, located near Phoenix in the state of A

2.nounB2
Definition

A city in the southwestern United States, located near Phoenix in the state of Arizona. It began as a small farming community and has grown into one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the country.

Example

Tendai moved to Gilbert, Arizona, for a job at a new technology company.

move to Gilbert, Arizona — place-name pattern

The high school in Gilbert won the state baseball championship last year.

in Gilbert — preposition pattern for location

Common collocations
  • in Gilbert
  • Gilbert, Arizona
  • the town of Gilbert

Grammar Patterns

in Gilbert

Gilbert, Arizona

Usage Note

Always capitalised as a proper place name. In address format, include the state: 'Gilbert, AZ'.

3. Cass Gilbert (1859–1934), an American architect famous for designing large publi

3.nounC1
Definition

Cass Gilbert (1859–1934), an American architect famous for designing large public buildings and skyscrapers, including the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., and the Woolworth Building in New York City.

Example

Felix wrote a school report about Cass Gilbert, the architect of the Woolworth Building.

Cass Gilbert, the architect of — appositive pattern

The tour guide pointed out several buildings in downtown Saint Paul designed by Cass Gilbert.

designed by Cass Gilbert — passive pattern

Common collocations
  • designed by Cass Gilbert
  • Cass Gilbert's design
  • architect Cass Gilbert

Grammar Patterns

designed by Cass Gilbert

Cass Gilbert + building name

Usage Note

Use the full name 'Cass Gilbert' on first mention in a text; 'Gilbert' alone may be used afterward if the context is clear.

4. Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c. 1539–1583), an English explorer and soldier during the

4.nounC2
Definition

Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c. 1539–1583), an English explorer and soldier during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He claimed the island of Newfoundland for England and died at sea while trying to return from North America.

Example

Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England in the year 1583.

Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed — historical action pattern

Eli learned about Sir Humphrey Gilbert's voyage across the Atlantic Ocean for a history exam.

Common collocations
  • Sir Humphrey Gilbert
  • Humphrey Gilbert's expedition
  • Gilbert's voyage

Grammar Patterns

Sir Humphrey Gilbert

Humphrey Gilbert + verb (explored, claimed)

Usage Note

Almost always referred to with the title 'Sir' in historical writing. Distinguish from other Gilberts in Elizabethan history by using the full title on first mention.

5. William Gilbert (1544–1603), an English physician and scientist who served Queen

5.nounC2
Definition

William Gilbert (1544–1603), an English physician and scientist who served Queen Elizabeth I. He is considered the father of electrical and magnetic science because he wrote the book 'De Magnete' and was the first person to describe the Earth as a giant magnet.

Example

William Gilbert's book 'De Magnete' changed how European scientists understood magnetism.

William Gilbert's book — possessive with scientist

Sahil's science teacher mentioned that William Gilbert served as Queen Elizabeth's personal physician.

Common collocations
  • William Gilbert + book title ('De Magnete')
  • physician William Gilbert
  • Gilbert's experiments

Grammar Patterns

William Gilbert + verb (showed, wrote, discovered)

Usage Note

Do not confuse with Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (a different person, index 6). The magnetic unit 'gilbert' is named after this William Gilbert.

Common Mistakes

William Gilbert wrote comic operas with Arthur Sullivan.
William Gilbert was a physician and scientist who studied magnetism.
The librettist who worked with Sullivan was Sir William Schwenck Gilbert.

6. Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911), an English poet and playwright best kn

6.nounC1
Definition

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911), an English poet and playwright best known for writing the words to the comic operas he created with the composer Arthur Sullivan. Their famous works include 'The Pirates of Penzance', 'H.M.S. Pinafore', and 'The Mikado'.

Example

Heloísa's choir class performed a song from Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Pirates of Penzance.'

Gilbert and Sullivan's — joint possessive pattern

W. S. Gilbert wrote witty verses that made fun of British society and politics.

Common collocations
  • Gilbert and Sullivan
  • Gilbert and Sullivan opera
  • W. S. Gilbert's libretto
  • the Gilbert and Sullivan partnership

Grammar Patterns

Gilbert and Sullivan

W. S. Gilbert + operetta title

Usage Note

The partnership is almost always referred to as 'Gilbert and Sullivan' (in that order). His name is often abbreviated as 'W. S. Gilbert' in references. Do not confuse with the scientist William Gilbert (index 5).

Common Mistakes

William Gilbert wrote the words to The Mikado.
W. S. Gilbert wrote the words to The Mikado.
The librettist and the scientist are two different people with similar names.

Word family

  • Gilbertian
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Both 'gilbert' and 'ampere-turn' measure the same physical quantity: magnetomotive force (the push that drives a magnetic field through a circuit). The gilbert belongs to the older centimetre-gram-second (CGS) system and is now rarely used outside historical physics texts. The ampere-turn (symbol At) is the standard SI unit used in modern engineering and electronics. One gilbert equals approximately 0.8 ampere-turns. A learner studying electrical engineering will encounter 'ampere-turn' far more often, while 'gilbert' appears mainly in discussions of the history of science or when reading older equipment manuals. For example: 'The coil produced 10 ampere-turns of magnetomotive force' is a modern sentence; the same idea in a 1920s textbook would read 'The coil produced about 12.5 gilberts of magnetomotive force.'

gilbert ↗ampere-turnmagnetomotive force

Etymology

GermanicOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'gilbert' was adopted in the late 19th century as the name for the CGS unit of magnetomotive force, in honour of the English scientist William Gilbert (1544–1603), who wrote the pioneering work 'De Magnete' on magnetism. The surname Gilbert itself comes from the Old French personal name 'Gilebert', composed of Germanic elements meaning 'bright pledge' or 'bright hostage'.