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Electric

//ɪˈlɛktɹɪk// adj, noun, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of, relating to, produced by, operated with, or utilising electricity; electrical. not-comparable

    "But electric vehicles and the batteries that made them run became ensnared in corporate scandals, fraud, and monopolistic corruption that shook the confidence of the nation and inspired automotive upstarts."

  2. 2
    Of or relating to an electronic version of a musical instrument that has an acoustic equivalent. not-comparable
  3. 3
    Emotionally thrilling; electrifying. figuratively, not-comparable

    "A glance from Beatrice—for nothing is so electric as the kindness of sympathy—stopped the tide of bewailings that were gushing forth. "Poor child!" muttered the housekeeper; "but it's no good telling her.""

Adjective
  1. 1
    affected by emotion as if by electricity; thrilling wordnet
  2. 2
    (of a situation) exceptionally tense wordnet
  3. 3
    using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Electricity; the electricity supply. informal, usually, with-definite-article

    "We had to sit in the dark because the electric was cut off."

  2. 2
    a car that is powered by electricity wordnet
  3. 3
    An electric powered version of something that was originally or is more commonly not electric.; An electric car, locomotive, train etc. countable, informal, rare

    "Equally I can stand in a station like Lucerne in Switzerland, and watch with ill-concealed admiration the majestic entry of one of the latest Gotthard "Ae 6/6" electrics, packing 6,000 horsepower within its 60 ft. of length and 121 tons of weight, with its sleek dark green sides and handsome stainless steel bands and front wings."

  4. 4
    An electric powered version of something that was originally or is more commonly not electric.; An electric toothbrush. informal

    "The beautiful VIOlight bathroom unit takes up very little space (it's about the size of a cup), yet it holds up to 4 toothbrushes - even electrics!"

  5. 5
    An electric powered version of something that was originally or is more commonly not electric.; An electric typewriter. informal

    "Richard's old Olivetti electric had been put aside for the time being on top of one of the filing cabinets. “It serves the purpose,” Richard said. He nodded at the word processor."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    A substance or object which can be electrified; an insulator or non-conductor, like amber or glass. archaic
  2. 7
    Fencing with the use of a body wire, box, and related equipment to detect when a weapon has touched an opponent.

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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.

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