Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Electric?

\E*lec"tric\, Electrical \E*lec"tric*al\, a. [L. electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. ?; akin to ? the beaming sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. ['e]lectrique. The name came from the production of electricity by the friction of amber.] 1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing, derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark. 2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance. 3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. ``Electric Pindar.'' --Mrs. Browning. {Electric atmosphere}, or {Electric aura}. See under {Aura}. {Electrical battery}. See {Battery}. {Electrical brush}. See under {Brush}. {Electric cable}. See {Telegraph cable}, under {Telegraph}. {Electric candle}. See under {Candle}. {Electric cat} (Zo["o]l.), one of three or more large species of African catfish of the genus {Malapterurus} (esp. {M. electricus} of the Nile). They have a large electrical organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also {sheathfish}. {Electric clock}. See under {Clock}, and see {Electro-chronograph}. {Electric current}, a current or stream of electricity traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to another which is in a different electrical state. {Electric, or Electrical}, {eel} (Zo["o]l.), a South American eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus {Gymnotus} ({G. electricus}), from two to five feet in length, capable of giving a violent electric shock. See {Gymnotus}. {Electrical fish} (Zo["o]l.), any fish which has an electrical organ by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the electric cat. See {Torpedo}, and {Gymnotus}. {Electric fluid}, the supposed matter of electricity; lightning. {Electrical image} (Elec.), a collection of electrical points regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image of certain other electrical points, and used in the solution of electrical problems. --Sir W. Thomson. {Electrical light}, the light produced by a current of electricity which in passing through a resisting medium heats it to incandescence or burns it. See under {Carbon}. {Electric, or Electrical}, {machine}, an apparatus for generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by friction. {Electric motor}. See {Electro-motor}, 2. {Electric osmose}. (Physics) See under {Osmose}. {Electric pen}, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the penhandle. {Electric railway}, a railway in which the machinery for moving the cars is driven by an electric current. {Electric ray} (Zo["o]l.), the torpedo. {Electric telegraph}. See {Telegraph}.
\E*lec"tric\, n. (Physics) A nonconductor of electricity, as amber, glass, resin, etc., employed to excite or accumulate electricity.