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electric

elect·ric

UK/ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/ US/ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/ common informal
adjective (3) noun (1)

adjective

1.

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

  • “electric current”
  • “electric wiring”
  • “electrical appliances”
  • “an electrical storm”
Synonyms
2.

(of a situation) exceptionally tense

  • “an atmosphere electric with suspicion”
Similar
3.

affected by emotion as if by electricity; thrilling

  • “gave an electric reading of the play”
  • “the new leader had a galvanic effect on morale”
Synonyms
Similar

noun

1.

Origin

First attested in c. 1646 in a publication by Thomas Browne. From New Latin ēlectricus (“electrical; of amber”), from ēlectr(um) (“amber”) + -icus (“adjectival suffix”); from Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron, “amber”); related to ἠλέκτωρ (ēléktōr, “shining sun”), of unknown origin (see which for more). The Latin term was apparently used first with the sense electrical in 1600 by the English physician and scientist William Gilbert in his work De Magnete.

Phrases

  • battery electric multiple unit
  • battery electric vehicle
  • Brazilian electric shower
  • dynamo-electric machine
  • electric arc
  • electric bass
  • electric bath
  • electric bicycle

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.