- 1[usually before noun] connected with electricity; using, produced by, or producing electricity an electric motor an electric guitar an electric current/charge an electric generator an electric plug/outlet/switch (= that carries electricity) see electric shock
- 2full of excitement; making people excited synonym electrifying The atmosphere was electric. The news had an electric effect on the waiting crowd. Which Word?electric / electricalThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
- Electric is usually used to describe something that uses or produces electricity. You use electrical with more general nouns such as equipment and wiring and things that are concerned with electricity:an electrical fault. However, the distinction is not always so clear now:an electric/electrical company an electric/electrical current an electric/electrical shock
| electric ~ | electrical ~ |
|---|---|
| light | equipment |
| guitar | wiring |
| drill | signal |
| chair | engineer |
| shock | shock |
Check pronunciation: electric