n. [ Electro + Gr. tre`pein to turn. ] An instrument used to change the direction of electric currents; a commutator. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. électrice. Cf. Electoress. ] The wife or widow of an elector in the old German empire. Burke.

n. (Physics) A nonconductor of electricity, as amber, glass, resin, etc., employed to excite or accumulate electricity. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } 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 ]

, same as electricity{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

, 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 ]

1. the light produced by a current of electricity which in passing through a resisting medium heats it to incandescence or burns it. See under Carbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a lamp whose light is produced by passing an electric current through a light bulb, especially an incandescent lamp. [ PJC ]

adv. In the manner of electricity, or by means of it; thrillingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. The state or quality of being electrical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a device used for execution of criminals, consisting of a specially designed chair in which the victim is killed by passing a large current of electricity through the body. This method of killing is called electrocution.
Syn. -- the chair, death chair, hot seat. [ PJC ]