electric
[adjective]
Synonyms: charged, dynamic, exciting, rousing, stimulating, stirring, tense, thrilling

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English Thesaurus: electric, electrical, electroni

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

e‧lec‧tric S2 W3 /ɪˈlektrɪk/ adjective
[Word Family: noun: electrician, electricity, electrics, electrification; adjective: electric, electrical, electrified, electrifying; verb: electrify; adverb: electrically]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: electricus, from Latin electrum 'amber'; because electricity was first made by rubbing amber]

1. needing electricity to work, produced by electricity, or used for carrying electricity
electric light/kettle/cooker etc
the heat from a small electric fire
electric current/power/charge (=a flow of electricity)
an electric blanket (=one with electric wires in it, used for making a bed warm)

2. making people feel very excited:
The atmosphere in the courtroom was electric.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

electric
adjective
BAD: My father's company imports electric goods.
GOOD: My father's company imports electrical goods.

Usage Note:
ELECTRIC · ELECTRICAL · ELECTRONIC · ELECTRONICS
Electric means carrying, producing, produced by, powered by, or charged with electricity: ‘an electric wire’, ‘an electric generator’, ‘an electric shock’, ‘an electric current’, ‘an electric light bulb’, ‘an electric toaster’ For machines and devices that are powered by electricity but do have transistors, microchips, valves, etc, use electric (NOT electronic ): ‘an electric guitar’, ‘an electric train set’, ‘an electric razor’
Electrical means associated with electricity: ‘electrical systems’, ‘a course in electrical engineering’, ‘an electrical engineer’ To refer to the general class of things that are powered by electricity, use electrical (NOT electric ): ‘electrical equipment’, ‘We stock all the latest electrical kitchen appliances.’
Electronic is used to refer to equipment which is designed to work by means of an electric current passing through a large number of transistors, microchips, valves etc, and components of this equipment: ‘an electronic calculator’, ‘tiny electronic components’ Compare: ‘an electronic calculator’ BUT ‘an electric oven’ An electronic system is one that uses equipment of this type: ‘electronic surveillance’, ‘e-mail’ (= electronic mail, a system for sending messages very quickly by means of computers)
Electronics (WITH s ) refers to (1) the branch of science and technology concerned with the study, design or use of electronic equipment: ‘a student of electronics’ (2) (used as a modifier) anything that is connected with this branch: ‘the electronics industry’

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

electric used about something that works using electricity:
an electric kettle
Is your cooker electric or gas?
electrical used about things in general that use electricity, or people whose job is to make or repair these things:
a company manufacturing electrical goods
an electrical engineer
electronic used about equipment such as computers and televisions that work by using extremely small electrical parts, or about systems that work using computers:
Most kids love electronic games.
Email is the short word for electronic mail.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲