electric – Wiktionary

See also: elèctric

English

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Alternative forms

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• electrickchiefly archaic)

Etymology

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1640s (Thomas Browne), from New Latin ēlectricus (“electrical; of amber”), from ēlectrum (“amber”) +‎ -icus (“adjectival suffix”), from Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron, “amber”), related to ἠλέκτωρ (ēléktōr, “shining sun”), of unknown origin; see there for further information. 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.[1]

Pronunciation

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• IPA(key):

  /ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/

  ,

  /əˈlɛktɹɪk/

• Audio (US)

Adjective

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electric (not comparable)

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Breton: (please verify) tredanek(please verify) tredanel(br)
• Indonesian: (please verify) listrik(id)
• Interlingua: (please verify) electric

Noun

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electric (plural electrics)

1. (

   informal

   ,

   usually with definite article

   usually with definite article

   )

   Electricity; the electricity supply.

   We had to sit in the dark because the electric was cut off.

2. (

   informal

   )

   An electric powered version of something that was originally or is more commonly not electric.

   1. (

      rare

      ,

      countable

      )

      An electric car.

      • 2004, Dennis Barton, Red Star 4: Victory‎[3]:

        , Dennis Barton,

        There were electric vehicles around, but four-wheel drive electrics were pretty damned rare, and the snow was deep enough to stop anything that didn’t have a minimum of four big wheels spinning at all times.

   2. An electric toothbrush.
      • 2007, Working Mother (volume 31, number 1, page 71)

        The beautiful VIOlight bathroom unit takes up very little space (it’s about the size of a cup), yet it holds up to 4 toothbrushes – even electrics!

   3. An electric typewriter.
      • 1983, Stephen King, Word Processor of the Gods

        Richard’s old Olivetti electric had been put aside for the time being on top of one of the filing cabinets. “It serves the purpose,” Richard said. He nodded at the word processor.

3. (

   archaic

   )

   A substance or object which can be electrified; an insulator or non-conductor, like amber or glass.

4. (

   fencing

   )

   Fencing with the use of a body wire, box, and related equipment to detect when a weapon has touched an opponent.

   steam

Translations

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References

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Occitan

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Pronunciation

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• Audio (Béarn)

Adjective

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electric m (feminine singular electrica, masculine plural electrics, feminine plural electricas)

Related terms

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Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French électrique.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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electric m or n (feminine singular electrică, masculine plural electrici, feminine and neuter plural electrice)

Declension

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Declension of electric

singular

plural

masculine

neuter

feminine

masculine

neuter

feminine

nominative/
accusative

indefinite

electric

electrică
electrici
electrice

definite

electricul
electrica
electricii
electricele

genitive/
dative

indefinite

electric

electrice
electrici
electrice

definite

electricului
electricei
electricilor
electricelor

Related terms

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