- [usually before noun] connected with electricity; using, produced by or producing electricity
- an electric car/vehicle
- an electric guitar
- an electric light/motor
- an electric current/charge
- The wind turbine supplies the farm with electric power.
- Electrically charged particles have electric fields around them as a result of their charge.
- an electric generator
- an electric plug/socket/switch (= that carries electricity)
Which Word? electric / electricalelectric / electricalThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:see also electric shock, electrical stormTopics Physics and chemistrya2, Engineeringa2electric ~ electrical ~ light equipment guitar wiring drill signal chair engineer shock shock - 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
- an electric/electrical company
- an electric/electrical current
- an electric/electrical shock
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- full of excitement; making people excited synonym electrifying
- The atmosphere was electric.
- The news had an electric effect on the waiting crowd.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from modern Latin electricus, from Latin electrum ‘amber’, from Greek ēlektron (because rubbing amber causes electrostatic phenomena).
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