(ˌ)iks, _ēks noun plural suffix but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: -ic (as in arithmetic) + -s; after Greek plural nouns ending in -ika, as mathēmatika mathematics
1. usually singular in construction : study : knowledge : skill : practice
opt ics
linguist ics
pediatr ics
homilet ics
2. usually singular in construction : systematic formulation : treatise
econom ics
polit ics
3. usually plural in construction : characteristic actions or activities
hero ics
hyster ics
gymnast ics
4. usually plural in construction : characteristic qualities, operations, or phenomena
acoust ics
mechan ics
phonet ics