I. ə̇ˈlektrik, ēˈ-, -rēk adjective
or elec·tri·cal -rə̇kəl, -rēk-
Etymology: New Latin electricus produced from amber by friction, electric, from Medieval Latin, of amber, from Latin electrum amber, alloy of gold and silver (from Greek ēlektron ) + -icus -ic, -ical; akin to Greek ēlektōr beaming sun, Sanskrit ulkā fiery phenomenon in the sky, meteor
1.
a. : of, relating to, or produced by electricity
electric supply
electric output
electrical industry
electrical shock
b. : of, relating to, or produced by a method of reproducing sound in which the cutting stylus is electrically vibrated — compare acoustic 3a(2)
2.
a. : operated by an electric motor
an electric refrigerator
b. : heated by an electric current
an electric stove
c. : charged by an electric potential
3. : charged with or as if with an electric current
black hair … which went out in all directions in a wild, electric way — R.P.Warren
especially : marked by or producing intense excitement
when the people are Irishmen and the town is Dublin, the possibilities are fairly electric — Harry Levin
a part in which she gave an electric performance — Brooks Atkinson
the effect upon the jurors was electrical — Erle Stanley Gardner
two hours later, before an audience electric with expectation, the President began his speech — New York Times
• elec·tri·cal·ly -rə̇k(ə)lē, -rēk-, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
1. archaic : a nonconductor of electricity (as amber, glass, resin) used to excite or accumulate electricity
2.
[ electric (lamp) or electric (light) ]
: an electric light — usually used in plural
the church was lit with little electrics — Richard Llewellyn
3. : an electrically operated vehicle:
a.
[ electric (motorcar) ]
: an electric automobile
nice old ladies driving down … Broad Street in their elegant Baker electrics — James Thurber
b.
[ electric (railway) ]
: an electric train or streetcar
electrics and diesels do not have side rods — John Page
4. dialect : electricity
5. or electric blue or electric green : a grayish blue that is greener and deeper than copenhagen, Saxe blue, or old china, redder and deeper than Gobelin, and greener and duller than Quimper
III. adjective
: being or involving a musical performance on electric instruments
loud fast electric blues