electric
English meaning: Electric
Definition
(usually with definite article) Electricity; the electricity supply.
Example
“We had to sit in the dark because the electric was cut off.”
Another example: “The crowd created an electric atmosphere in the stadium.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Most common as an adjective relating to electricity ('electric current', 'electric car', 'electric guitar'); also figurative ('an electric atmosphere'). The noun ('the electric') is colloquial British for the electricity supply. Note 'electric' (the device runs on electricity) vs 'electrical' (relating to electricity generally).
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From New Latin 'electricus' (produced from amber by friction), from Latin 'electrum' (amber), from Greek 'elektron'; coined in the 17th century.
Synonyms
- exciting
- galvanic
- tense
- galvanizing
- electrical
- electric automobile
- electric car
Antonyms / Opposites
- manual
- acoustic
Related Words
- dipole
- emu
- traction
- shocks
- submerged
- trolley
- tramway
- electrification
- propulsion
- utilities
Common Collocations
- electric car
- electric guitar
- electric current
- electric shock
- electric atmosphere
- electric blanket
Word Forms
electric (adj/n); electrical (adj); electrically (adv)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B