electric

/əˈlɛktrɪk/

/ɛˈlɛktrɪk/

Other forms: electrics

Things that are electric are either powered by electricity — like a battery-operated flashlight — or produce or transmit electricity — like an electric generator.

The word electric, indicating something charged with electricity, was used long before electricity was fully understood or harnessed as a form of power in the nineteenth century. In the seventeenth century, for example, materials like wool that produced sparks of static electricity when rubbed were termed electric by scientists, and the figurative meaning of the word was also used. Figuratively, electric can describe something exciting or brightly colored, as in "electric atmosphere" or "electric green."

Definitions of electric

1. adjective

   using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
   “electric current”

   “electric wiring”

   synonyms: electrical
2. noun

   a car that is powered by electricity
   synonyms: electric automobile, electric car

   type of:

   auto, automobile, car, machine, motorcar

   a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
3. adjective

   affected by emotion as if by electricity; thrilling
   “gave an electric reading of the play”

   synonyms: galvanic, galvanising, galvanizing

   exciting

   creating or arousing excitement
4. adjective

   (of a situation) exceptionally tense
   “an atmosphere electric with suspicion”

   synonyms:

   tense

   in or of a state of physical or nervous tension