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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary elec·tric
ETYMOLOGY New Latin electricus produced from amber by friction, electric, from Medieval Latin, of amber, from Latin electrumamber, electrum, from Greek ēlektron; akin to Greek ēlektōrbeaming sun DATE 1675 an electric current an electric heater 2. exciting as if by electric shock an electric performance an electric personality also : charged with strong emotion the room was electric with tension 3. a. electronic 3a b. amplifying sound by electronic means — used of a musical instrument an electric guitar 4. very bright electric blue electric orange
noun DATE 1646 1. archaic : a nonconductor of electricity used to excite or accumulate electricity 2. something (as a light, automobile, or train) operated by electricity English Etymology electric 1640s, first used in English by physician Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682), coined in Mod.L. by English physicist William Gilbert (1540-1603) in treatise "De Magnete" (1600), from L. electrum"amber," from Gk. elektron "amber" (Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus), also "pale gold" (a compound of 1 part silver to 4 of gold); of unknown origin. The physical force so called because it first was generated by rubbing amber. Electric toothbrush first recorded 1936; electric typewriter 1958. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ electric elec·tric / i5lektrik / adjective1. [usually before noun] connected with electricity; using, produced by or producing electricity 电的；用电的；电动的；发电的: an electric motor 电动机 an electric light / guitar, etc. 电灯、电吉他等 an electric current / charge 电流/荷 an electric generator 发电机 an electric plug / socket / switch (= that carries electricity) 电源插头/插座/开关 ⇨ see also electric shock , electrical storm 2. full of excitement; making people excited 充满刺激的；令人激动的 SYN electrifying :
The atmosphere was electric. 气氛很热烈。 noun[U] (informal) used to refer to the supply of electricity to a building 供电: The electric will be off tomorrow. 明天停电。 I've paid the electric (= the bill for the supply of electricity). 我已经付电费了。 (COLLOC)"> p-g eid="10" st="new"> Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged elec·tric I. \ə̇ˈlektrik, ēˈ-, -rēk\ adjective or elec·tri·cal \-rə̇kəl, -rēk-\ Etymology: New Latin electricus produced from amber by friction, electric, from Medieval Latin, of amber, from Latin electrum amber, alloy of gold and silver (from Greek ēlektron) + -icus -ic, -ical; akin to Greek ēlektōr beaming sun, Sanskrit ulkā fiery phenomenon in the sky, meteor 1. a. : of, relating to, or produced by electricity < electric supply > < electric output > < electrical industry > < electrical shock > b. : of, relating to, or produced by a method of reproducing sound in which the cutting stylus is electrically vibrated — compare acoustic 3a(2)2. a. : operated by an electric motor < an electric refrigerator > b. : heated by an electric current < an electric stove > c. : charged by an electric potential 3. : charged with or as if with an electric current < black hair … which went out in all directions in a wild, electricway — R.P.Warren > especially : marked by or producing intense excitement < when the people are Irishmen and the town is Dublin, the possibilities are fairly electric — Harry Levin > < a part in which she gave an electric performance — Brooks Atkinson > < the effect upon the jurors was electrical — Erle Stanley Gardner > < two hours later, before an audience electric with expectation, the President began his speech — New York Times > • elec·tri·cal·ly \-rə̇k(ə)lē, -rēk-, -li\ adverb II. noun (-s) 1. archaic : a nonconductor of electricity (as amber, glass, resin) used to excite or accumulate electricity 2. [electric (lamp) or electric (light)] : an electric light — usually used in plural < the church was lit with little electrics — Richard Llewellyn > 3. : an electrically operated vehicle: a. [electric (motorcar)] : an electric automobile < nice old ladies driving down … Broad Street in their elegant Baker electrics — James Thurber > b. [electric (railway)] : an electric train or streetcar < electrics and diesels do not have side rods — John Page > 4. dialect : electricity 5. or electric blue or electric green : a grayish blue that is greener and deeper than copenhagen, Saxe blue, or old china, redder and deeper than Gobelin, and greener and duller than Quimper III. adjective : being or involving a musical performance on electric instruments < loud fast electric blues > |
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