The unit of electric current; -- defined by the
   International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by U. S. Statute as, one
   tenth of the unit of current of the C. G. S. system of electro-magnetic
   units, or the practical equivalent of the unvarying current which, when
   passed through a standard solution of nitrate of silver in water,
   deposits silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second. Called also
   the international ampere.