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 locomotive
1. A train locomotive operated by electric power supplied from a third rail alongside or between the two track-guide rails or from an overhead wire system feeding a trolley.
2. A locomotive operated by electric power picked up from a system of continuous overhead wires, or, sometimes, from a third rail mounted alongside the track.
electric log
The record or log of a borehole, obtained by lowering electrodes into the hole and measuring electrical properties of the rock formations traversed.

A borehole is a deep hole drilled into the ground to obtain samples for geologic study or to release or extract water or oil.

electric meter, power meter, electric power meter
1. An instrument; such as, an ampere-hour meter, that measures electrical power and totals its measurement with time.
2. A device that measures electric power consumed, either at an instant, as in a wattmeter, or averaged over a time interval, as in a demand meter.

A demand meter is any of several types of instruments used to determine a customer's maximum demand for electric power over a time interval; generally it is used for billing industrial users.

electric moment
1. A vector equal to the product of the magnitude of either of two charges of equal magnitude but opposite in their polarity and the distance between their centers.
2. One of a series of quantities characterizing an electric charge distribution.
electric monopole
1. An electric charge distribution that is centered about a point or is spherically symmetrical.
2. A distribution of an electric charge which is concentrated at a point or is spherically symmetric.
electric motor
1. A device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using forces exerted by magnetic fields on current-carrying conductors.
2. An instrument that converts electrical power into mechanical torque or the force generated by an internal-combustion engine to turn a vehicle's drive shaft.
electric multipole
A charge distribution from a series of common distributions; such as, the electric monopole (a single charge), dipole (two opposite charges, separated by a short distance), and quadrupole (two dipoles, separated by a short distance).
electric multipole field
1. The electromagnetic field produced by static or oscillating electric multipoles.
2. The electric and magnetic fields generated by a static or oscillating electric multipole.
electric muscle stimulator, EMS
A therapeutic electric current used to stimulate a muscle directly; such as, when the muscle is denervated (loss of nerve impulses) and peripheral nerves are not functioning.
electric network
The collection or interconnection of electric elements; such as, resistors, coils, and capacitors that are joined together to form several interrelated circuits.
electric noise
Unwanted electric energy in a receiver or transmission system other than crosstalk or unwanted sounds or other signals picked up by one channel of an electronic communications system from another channel; for example, between telephones or loudspeakers.

Sources include electric appliances, electric motors, engine ignition, and power lines.

electric octupole moment
A quantity that describes an electric charge distribution, determined by integrating the product of the charge density, the third power of the distance from the origin, and a spherical harmonic over the charge distribution.
electric ophthalmia
Actinic keratoconjunctivitis or inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea with pain, lacrination or excess tears, and smarting of the eyelids caused by repeated flashes of bright light or ultraviolet radiation.

This condition comes from undue exposure to such bright lights as the electric arc used in welding and the arc lights used in motion-picture studios.

electric organ
1. The generating and sensory organs of the electric field in the electric fish, composed of electroplaques and located at the base of long, low-resistance, jelly-filled canals that radiate through the body from the head and monitor the electric field at all points over the body.
2. An organ consisting of rows of electroplaques which produce an electric discharge.
electric organs
Modifications in muscle tracts in some fish, giving them the ability to communicate an electric shock.

Such physical organs are found in electric eels, electric rays, and the African catfish.

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.