electricity and electrical power – synonyms and related words | Macmillan Dictionary

Related words

AC

abbreviation

alternating current

active

adjective

an active electrical system is working

alternating current

noun

a flow of electric current that keeps changing direction at a very fast rate

arc

noun

physics a flash of light that happens when electricity flows between two separated points

arc

verb

science if electricity arcs, it makes a flash of light as it flows between two separate points

arc light

noun

a light that is produced when electricity flows between two separated points

blackout

noun

a short period when the electricity supply to a building or district is stopped, especially at night

brownout

noun

American a temporary reduction of electric power in an area

charge

noun

physics the amount or type of electrical force that something has. The protons in an atom have a positive charge, and the electrons have a negative charge.

charge

verb

to put electricity into a piece of electrical equipment such as a battery

conventional current

noun

an electric current that flows from positive to negative

current

noun

a flow of electricity

current electricity

noun

electricity that flows from one place to another

DC

abbreviation

physics direct current: electric current that always flows in the same direction. Electric current that changes direction is called AC or alternating current.

direct current

noun

an electric current that flows in one direction only. It is the form in which batteries supply electricity.

discharge

verb

physics if something discharges electricity, or if electricity is discharged, it flows out of that thing

discharge

noun

physics the flow of electricity, for example from a piece of equipment or during a storm

electric

adjective

used for carrying electricity

electric

adjective

relating to electricity

electrical

adjective

relating to electricity

electricity

noun

a form of energy that can produce light, heat, and power for machines, computers, televisions, etc.

electrification

noun

the process of making something work by electricity, or of bringing a supply of electricity to a building or town

electrified

adjective

something that is electrified has electricity passing through it

electrify

verb

to provide something such as a town or a transportation system with a supply of electricity

electromagnet

noun

a powerful magnet that uses an electric current passed in a wire around it to produce its force

electromagnetic

adjective

relating to the use of an electric current to produce a magnetic field

electronic

adjective

using electricity and extremely small electrical parts such as microchips and transistors

electronic

adjective

involving the use of electronic equipment, especially computers

electronically

adverb

by a piece of electronic equipment, especially a computer

electronics

noun

electronic equipment, or equipment with electronic parts

energy

noun

a form of power such as electricity, heat, or light that is used for making things work

flat

adjective

mainly British a flat battery does not have enough power left in it

flow

verb

if an electric current flows, it passes continuously through something

fused

adjective

a piece of electrical equipment that is fused contains a fuse

grid

noun

a set of wires that carries the electricity supply

hydro

noun

Canadian electrical power and heating

hydroelectric

adjective

using water power to produce electricity

impedance

noun

a measure of how difficult it is for electricity to flow through a piece of electrical equipment

impulse

noun

physics an electrical signal, for example one that is passed from a nerve to a muscle

induction

noun

physics the production of electrical or magnetic forces in an object by other electrical or magnetic forces near it

inductive

adjective

science relating to electrical or magnetic force that is produced by induction

input

noun

physics electrical or other energy that is put into a machine

in series

phrase

in a system of connections that allows electricity to pass from one part to another in the correct order

jolt

noun

a sudden strong increase in energy

live

adjective

a live wire or piece of equipment is connected to the electricity supply and has electricity going through it

micropower

noun

electrical power produced or used in small quantities, usually close to the place where it is needed so that large power stations are not needed

negative

adjective

physics with the same electrical charge as an electron

negatively

adverb

physics with a negative electric charge

neutral

adjective

physics a neutral wire does not have an electrical charge

offgrid

adjective

using or involving electricity that comes from sources other than the national or central power supply

outage

noun

American a period of time when the electricity supply in a particular place stops working

output

noun

the electricity or power produced by a piece of equipment or an engine

overcharge

verb

to put too much power into a battery

overloaded

adjective

having had too much electricity passed through it

photovoltaic

adjective

able to change light energy from the sun into electricity

polar

adjective

science relating to the pole of a battery or magnet

polarity

noun

science the condition of having opposite electrical charges

pole

noun

physics one of the two ends of a magnet or battery

positive

adjective

physics with the same electrical charge as a proton

power

noun

the supply of electricity to your home, office, community, etc.

power cut

noun

British a power failure

power failure

noun

a situation in which there is no electricity supply for a period of time

power line

noun

a thick wire that carries electricity above or below the ground

PV

adjective

photovoltaic

pylon

noun

one of a series of very tall metal structures used for holding the wires that carry electric power high above the ground

recharge

verb

to put more power into a battery

resistance

noun

physics the ability of something to stop the flow of electricity

rewire

verb

to replace all the wires that carry electricity in a building, car, or piece of equipment

semiconductor

noun

a solid substance such as silicon that allows some electricity to pass through it, used for making electronic equipment such as computers

shock

noun

a sudden flow of electricity that goes through your body that sometimes happens when you touch certain objects

shock

verb

to give someone an electric shock

short

noun

physics a short circuit

short

verb

to short-circuit, or to make something do this

short circuit

noun

a bad connection in the wires of a piece of electrical equipment, which prevents the equipment from working

short-circuit

verb

to have a short circuit, or to make a piece of electrical equipment have a short circuit

spike

noun

a sudden increase in the amount of electricity that a system produces

static electricity

noun

electricity that does not flow in a current but is found in some objects when they rub together and can give an electric shock

substation

noun

a place that electricity passes through on its way from where it is produced to where it is used

surge

noun

a sudden increase in electrical power that can damage equipment connected to it

transducer

noun

a piece of equipment that gets power from one source and then changes that power so that it can be used by another system

voltmeter

noun

a piece of equipment used for measuring voltage

English version of thesaurus of electricity and electrical power