electric

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/ UK /ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #3235

Meanings

1

adj
Using, producing, or powered by electricity.

They bought a new electric car.
2

adj
Very exciting and full of energy.

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · using, producing, or... electrical

2 adj · very exciting and full of... electrifying

Word family

Derived forms electric-blueelectrical electricallyelectricizeelectricnesselectrifyelectrionelectron

Appears in

Phrases (6)

See all

electric car
a car powered by an electric motor rather than a petrol or diesel engine

Adjective + noun
electric refrigerator
a refrigerator powered by an electric motor

Adjective + noun
electric shaver
a device with a motor that cuts hair close to the skin

Adjective + noun
electric toothbrush
a toothbrush whose head moves using an electric motor

Adjective + noun
weakly electric
producing a small electrical discharge rather than a strong one

Adverb + adjective
electric catfish
an African freshwater catfish capable of producing an electrical discharge

Adjective + noun

Etymology

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.

ēlectricus la-new ἤλεκτρον Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Physics

External links

# electric

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 3235

## Meanings
1. Using, producing, or powered by electricity.
2. Very exciting and full of energy.

## Examples
- They bought a new electric car.
- The atmosphere in the stadium was electric.

## Derived Forms
- electric-blue
- electrical
- electrically
- electricize
- electricness
- electrify
- electrion
- electron

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ēlectricus
- Root: ἤλεκτρον

## Etymology
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.

## AI Etymology
Electric: 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.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Physics

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