1. relating to or produced by the emission of electrons from a material when light shines on it
Usage: technical; physics

Examples

• The photoelectric effect was first explained by Albert Einstein in 1905.
• Solar panels use the photoelectric effect to convert sunlight into electricity.
• A photoelectric sensor detects the presence of objects by measuring light reflection.
• The photoelectric cell in the camera measures the amount of light entering the lens.
• Photoelectric devices are commonly used in automatic door openers.
• The photoelectric effect demonstrates that light behaves as particles called photons.