| Electrical | { } 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. électrique. 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance; an electric generator. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. “Electric Pindar.” Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ] 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), the torpedo. --
Electric telegraph. See Telegraph. [ 1913 Webster ]
Variants: Electric |
| electrical current | , the movement of electrically charged particles, atoms, or ions, through solids, liquids, gases, or free space; the term is usually used of relatively smooth movements of electric charge through conductors, whether constant or variable. Sudden movements of charge are usually referred to by other terms, such as spark or lightning or discharge. In metallic conductors the electric current is usually due to movement of electrons through the metal. The current is measured as the rate of movement of charge per unit time, and is counted in units of amperes. As a formal definition, the direction of movement of electric current is considered as the same as the direction of movement of positive charge, or in a direction opposite to the movement of negative charge. Electric current may move constantly in a single direction, called direct current (abbreviated DC), or may move alternately in one direction and then the opposite direction, called alternating current (abbreviated AC). [ PJC ] Variants: electric current |
| Electricity | n.; pl. Electricities [ Cf. F. électricité. See Electric. ] 1. (Physics) a property of certain of the fundamental particles of which matter is composed, called also electric charge, and being of two types, designated positive and negative; the property of electric charge on a particle or physical body creates a force field which affects other particles or bodies possessing electric charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force. A positively charged body and a negatively charged body will create an attractive force between them. The unit of electrical charge is the coulomb, and the intensity of the force field at any point is measured in volts. [ PJC ] 2. any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation or movement of electrically charged particles within material bodies, classified as static electricity and electric current. Static electricity is often observed in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to cling together; when sufficient static charge is accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric current passing between clouds and the ground, or between two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical, or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most other solid coductors is carried by the movement of electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement of charged particles may be responsible for the observed electrical current. [ PJC ] ☞ Electricity is manifested under following different forms: (a)
Statical electricity, called also
Frictional electricity or
Common electricity, electricity in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by induction. (b)
Dynamical electricity, called also
Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by dynamo-electric machines. (c)
Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar, and then heating the bar unequally. (d)
Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action of magnets. (f)
Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous electricity. (g)
Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction of resinous substance; -- called also resinous electricity. (h)
Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal electricity being much more common. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. The science which studies the phenomena and laws of electricity; electrical science. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension, usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of something unusual or important. |
