Definition of electric
1 or electricalplay \i-ˈlek-tri-kəl, ē-\ : of, relating to, or operated by electricity an electric current an electric heater
2 : exciting as if by electric shock an electric performance an electric personality; also : charged with strong emotion the room was electric with tension
3a : electronic 3ab : amplifying sound by electronic means —used of a musical instrument an electric guitar
4 : very bright electric blue electric orange
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Examples of electric in a Sentence
The device administers a mild electric shock.
It plugs into any electric socket.
The electrical cord is damaged.
There's a problem with the building's electrical wiring.
The pianist gave an electric performance.
The atmosphere in the room was electric.
Did You Know?
The word electric is derived from the Greek word for amber, elektron. It is only in modern times that practical use has been made of electricity, but some electrical phenomena have been known since antiquity. Certain philosophers of ancient Greece found that by rubbing amber with a piece of cloth, they could enable the amber to pick up light objects, such as feathers. In the 17th century, students of natural science began to discover that other natural phenomena were related to the effect of friction on amber.
Origin and Etymology of electric
New Latin electricus produced from amber by friction, electric, from Medieval Latin, of amber, from Latin electrum amber, electrum, from Greek ēlektron; akin to Greek ēlektōr beaming sun
First Known Use: 1722
Other Electrical Engineering Terms
electric
Definition of electric
1 archaic : a nonconductor of electricity used to excite or accumulate electricity
2 : something (such as a light, automobile, or train) operated by electricity
1646
First Known Use of electric
1646
Other Electrical Engineering Terms
ELECTRIC Defined for English Language Learners
electric
playDefinition of electric for English Language Learners
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: of or relating to electricity
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: operated by electricity
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: providing electricity
ELECTRIC Defined for Kids
electric
playDefinition of electric for Students
1 or electrical \-tri-kəl\ : of or relating to electricity or its use an electric current electrical engineering
2 : heated, moved, made, or run by electricity an electric heater an electric locomotive
3 : giving off sounds through an electronic amplifier an electric guitar
4 : having a thrilling effect The singer gave an electric performance.
electrically
adverb electrically powered carsHistory for electric
People in ancient Greece found that if they rubbed a piece of amber it would attract light things like straws and feathers. The rubbing gave the amber an electric charge. We owe the English word electric to this property of amber. Our word came from a Greek word ēlektron that meant “amber.”
Medical Dictionary
electric
playMedical Definition of electric
: of, relating to, or operated by electricity
Learn More about electric
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for electric Spanish Central: Translation of electric Nglish: Translation of electric for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of electric for Arabic speakers
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