From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Electric \E*lec"tric\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]k), Electrical
\E*lec"tric*al\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]*kal), a. [L. electrum amber,
a mixed metal, Gr. 'h`lektron; akin to 'hle`ktwr 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; an electric charge; an electric current;
an electrical engineer.
[1913 Webster]
2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as,
an electric or electrical machine or substance; an
electric generator.
[1913 Webster]
3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. "Electric Pindar."
--Mrs. Browning.
[1913 Webster]
4. powered by electricity; as, electrical appliances; an
electric toothbrush; an electric automobile.
[WordNet 1.5]
{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 eel}, 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. [archaic]
{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.
{Electric machine}, 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}.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\ ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[y^]),
n.; pl. {Electricities} ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[i^]z).
[Cf. F. ['e]lectricit['e]. See {Electric}.]
1. (Physics) a property of certain of the fundamental
particles of which matter is composed, called also
{electric charge}, and being of two types, designated
positive and negative; the property of electric charge on
a particle or physical body creates a force field which
affects other particles or bodies possessing electric
charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between
them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force.
A positively charged body and a negatively charged body
will create an attractive force between them. The unit of
electrical charge is the {coulomb}, and the intensity of
the force field at any point is measured in {volts}.
[PJC]
2. any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation
or movement of electrically charged particles within
material bodies, classified as {static electricity} and
{electric current}. Static electricity is often observed
in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to
cling together; when sufficient static charge is
accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air
between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible
spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another
object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful
sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is
put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic
devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric
current passing between clouds and the ground, or between
two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light,
concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between
objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of
a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object
may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of
molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical,
or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most
other solid coductors is carried by the movement of
electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic
solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement
of charged particles may be responsible for the observed
electrical current.
[PJC]
Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
forms: (a)
{Statical electricity}, called also
{Frictional electricity} or {Common electricity}, electricity
in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the
disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber,
etc., or by induction. (b)
{Dynamical electricity}, called also
{Voltaic electricity}, electricity in motion, or as a current
produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
dynamo-electric machines. (c)
{Thermoelectricity}, in which the disturbing cause is heat
(attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
and then heating the bar unequally. (d)
{Atmospheric electricity}, any condition of electrical
disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
{Magnetic electricity}, electricity developed by the action
of magnets. (f)
{Positive electricity}, the electricity that appears at the
positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
by friction of glass; -- called also {vitreous
electricity}. (g)
{Negative electricity}, the electricity that appears at the
negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
electricity. (h)
{Organic electricity}, that which is developed in organic
structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
electricity being much more common.
[1913 Webster]
3. The science which studies the phenomena and laws of
electricity; electrical science.
[1913 Webster]
4. Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension,
usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of
something unusual or important.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
electric current \electric current\, electrical current
\electrical current\,
the movement of electrically charged particles, atoms, or
ions, through solids, liquids, gases, or free space; the term
is usually used of relatively smooth movements of electric
charge through conductors, whether constant or variable.
Sudden movements of charge are usually referred to by other
terms, such as {spark} or {lightning} or {discharge}. In
metallic conductors the electric current is usually due to
movement of electrons through the metal. The current is
measured as the rate of movement of charge per unit time, and
is counted in units of amperes. As a formal definition, the
direction of movement of electric current is considered as
the same as the direction of movement of positive charge, or
in a direction opposite to the movement of negative charge.
Electric current may move constantly in a single direction,
called {direct current} (abbreviated {DC}), or may move
alternately in one direction and then the opposite direction,
called {alternating current} (abbreviated {AC}).
[PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
electric current
n 1: a flow of electricity through a conductor; "the current was
measured in amperes" [syn: {current}, {electric current}]
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