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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Electric \E*lec"tric\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]k), Electrical
\E*lec"tric*al\ ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]*kal), a. [L. electrum amber,
a mixed metal, Gr. 'h`lektron; akin to 'hle`ktwr the beaming
sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. ['e]lectrique. The
name came from the production of electricity by the friction
of amber.]
1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing,
derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric
power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an
electric spark; an electric charge; an electric current;
an electrical engineer.
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2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as,
an electric or electrical machine or substance; an
electric generator.
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3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. "Electric Pindar."
--Mrs. Browning.
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4. powered by electricity; as, electrical appliances; an
electric toothbrush; an electric automobile.
[WordNet 1.5]

{Electric atmosphere}, or {Electric aura}. See under {Aura}.


{Electrical battery}. See {Battery}.

{Electrical brush}. See under {Brush}.

{Electric cable}. See {Telegraph cable}, under {Telegraph}.


{Electric candle}. See under {Candle}.

{Electric cat} (Zo["o]l.), one of three or more large species
of African catfish of the genus {Malapterurus} (esp. {M.
electricus} of the Nile). They have a large electrical
organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also
{sheathfish}.

{Electric clock}. See under {Clock}, and see
{Electro-chronograph}.

{Electric current}, a current or stream of electricity
traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting
substances, or passing by means of conductors from one
body to another which is in a different electrical state.


{Electric eel}, or {Electrical eel} (Zo["o]l.), a South
American eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus {Gymnotus}
({G. electricus}), from two to five feet in length,
capable of giving a violent electric shock. See
{Gymnotus}.

{Electrical fish} (Zo["o]l.), any fish which has an
electrical organ by means of which it can give an
electrical shock. The best known kinds are the {torpedo},
the {gymnotus}, or {electrical eel}, and the {electric
cat}. See {Torpedo}, and {Gymnotus}.

{Electric fluid}, the supposed matter of electricity;
lightning. [archaic]

{Electrical image} (Elec.), a collection of electrical points
regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena,
an image of certain other electrical points, and used in
the solution of electrical problems. --Sir W. Thomson.

{Electric machine}, or {Electrical machine}, an apparatus for
generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by
friction.

{Electric motor}. See {Electro-motor}, 2.

{Electric osmose}. (Physics) See under {Osmose}.

{Electric pen}, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for
multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at
great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the
penhandle.

{Electric railway}, a railway in which the machinery for
moving the cars is driven by an electric current.

{Electric ray} (Zo["o]l.), the torpedo.

{Electric telegraph}. See {Telegraph}.
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Electric \E*lec"tric\, n. (Physics)
A nonconductor of electricity, as amber, glass, resin, etc.,
employed to excite or accumulate electricity.
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