electro-, electr-, electri-

(Greek > Latin: electric, electricity; from amber, resembling amber, generated from amber which when rubbed vigorously [as by friction], produced the effect of static electricity)

Electronics in our lives consists of numerous tools

Equipment which we use everyday relies on electronics to function including calculators, car controls, cameras, washing machines, medical scanners, mobile telephones, radar systems, computers; as well as many other applications or devices which are listed in this unit.

electric discharge lamp, electric-discharge lamp, discharge lamp, gas-discharge lamp, vapor lamp
1. An electric lamp in which the light comes from an electric discharge between two electrodes in a glass tube.
2. A lamp in which light is produced by an electric discharge between electrodes in a gas (or vapor) at low or high pressure.
3. A lamp that uses the transmission of an electric current through a gas or vapor to produce illumination. Neon, mercury and argon lamps are examples of electric-discharge lamps.
4. A lamp whose light is produced by current flow through a gas or vapor in a sealed glass enclosure.

Examples of these lamps include argon glow, mercury-vapor, neon glow, and sodium-vapor.

electric discharge tube, electric-discharge tube, discharge tube
An evacuated enclosure (removal of gases and vapors) containing a gas at low pressure, through which current can flow when sufficient voltage is applied between metal electrodes in the tube.
electric discharge, discharge, gaseous electric discharge
1. A transient or continuous conduction of electricity through a gas by the formation and movement of electrons and ions in an applied electric field.
2. The flow of electricity through a gas, resulting in the emission of radiation that is characteristic of the gas and of the intensity of the current.
3. The removal of a charge from a battery, capacitor, or other electric-energy storage device.
4. The passage of electricity through a gas, usually accompanied by a glow, arc, spark, or corona.
electric disintegration
Removal of metal by an electric spark acting in the air.

It is primarily used where precise control is not required; such as, for removing broken drills and taps.

electric displacement, dielectric displacement, dielectric flux density, electric displacement density, electric flux density, electric induction
The electric field intensity multiplied by the permittivity (measure of the ability of a nonconducting material to retain electric energy when placed in an electric field) or the property of a dielectric medium which determines the forces that electric charges placed in the medium exert on each other.
electric distribution system, distribution system
Circuitry associated with or involving high-voltage switchgear, step-down transformers, voltage dividers, and other related equipment used to receive high-voltage electricity from a primary source and redistribute or route it at lower voltages to substations or other points of applications.
electric double layer, electrical double layer, double layer, double ionic layer
1. A process that takes place at a solid-liquid interface.

It is made up of ions of one charge type which are fixed to the surface of the solid and an equal number of mobile ions of the opposite charge which are distributed through the neighboring region of the liquid.

2. The area of a charge separation formed when an electrode meets an ionic conductor.

A metal electrode in a water solution forms a specific structure consisting of the metal surface itself, an adjoining layer of adsorbed (adhesion to the surfaces of solids) water molecules and ions, and an outer region of oppositely charged ions diffused in the liquid.

This causes an electric field of considerable intensity.

3. An interfacial region, near the boundary between two different phases of a substance, in which physical properties change significantly.
4. A structure that appears on the surface of a charged object when it is placed into a liquid.

This object might be a solid particle, a gas bubble, a liquid droplet, or a porous body.

electric doublet, doublet, dipole
1. Any object or system that is oppositely charged at two points, or poles; such as, a magnet or a polar molecule. 2. Any object or system that has equal magnitudes but opposite signs or which is oppositely charged at two points, or poles.

This includes a magnet or a polar molecule; more precisely, it is the limit as either charge goes to infinity, the separation distance to zero, while the product remains constant.

electric drive
1. An electromechanical device which transmits motion from one shaft to another shaft while controlling the speed ratio of the shafts.
2. A mechanism that transmits motion from one shaft to another and controls the velocity ratio of the shafts by electrical means.
3. An automatic transmission in which a generator, connected with the engine, supplies power to a separate electric motor or motors; which drive the wheels.

It is used in buses, trucks, and Diesel locomotives.

electric dynamometer
An electric generator or motor equipped with a display that indicates torque.
electric eel
An eel-like, freshwater fish that often achieves a length of six feet and is capable of emitting strong electric discharges produced by electric organs consisting of modified muscle tissue situated along the ventral, or lower, part of the body.

Found in South American Amazon and Orinoco rivers and tributaries. They produce powerful electric shocks to stun prey, or for defense, sufficient to immobilize a large mammal.

electric eels (lexicomedy)
A battery of electric eels.
electric energy
1. The energy inherent in an array or ordered arrangement of charged particles because of their relative positions.
2. The energy constituent in a circuit because of its position in relation to a magnetic field.
3. The energy of electric charges or currents because of their positions in an electric field.
4. The integral with respect to time of the instantaneous power input or power output of a circuit or appliance.

The basic unit is the watthour.

electric energy measurement
The measurement of the integral (entire, complete), with respect to time, of the power in an electric circuit.
electric energy meter
A tool that measures the integral (an essential part or whole), with respect to time, of the power in an electric circuit.

The references or sources of information for compiling the words and definitions in this unit are listed at this Electronic Bibliography page or specific sources are indicated when they are appropriate.


A cross reference of word units that are related, directly and/or indirectly, with "electricity": galvano-; hodo-; ion-; piezo-; -tron; volt; biomechatronics, info; mechatronics, info.