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.

electronic engineer
Someone who is skilled in the field of electronic engineering or the branch of engineering that deals with the design, fabrication, and operation of circuits, electronic devices, and systems.
electronic engineering
1. A branch of electrical engineering that deals with the design, fabricating, and operation of electronic devices and systems; such as, radio, television, automation, and computers.
2. Engineering which deals with the practical applications of electronics including the design, fabrication, and operation of circuits, electronic devices, and systems.
electronic engraving
A procedure of producing printing plates, in which an original plate is photoelectrically scanned.

The amplified scanning current controls an engraving tool which removes metal in proportion to the white and dark areas of the original plate.

electronic exotica
1. Extraordinary or unusual electronic devices as applied in this word entry to Japanese exotic cell-phone gadgets.

The term exotic refers to something which is "strikingly unusual and often very colorful and exciting"; suggesting unfamiliar cultures or places and for non-native Japanese, walking through an electronics store in Japan is like going ashore in some lush, unspoiled place, where the local flora and fauna have evolved in isolation for centuries.

2. In Japan, the most conspicuous form of technology indicates an exoticism all its own because there are cell phones which look like chocolate bars; phones whose keypads and screens completely detach from each other; even a phone with perfume, so a lady's desired scent can drift pleasantly from her handset.

Many Japanese cell phones have TV tuners, fingerprint readers for security, ten-megapixel cameras with zoom lenses, and electronic-payment chips which can be used at cash registers.

—Compiled primarily from excerpts located in
"Japan's exceptional electronic exotica" in "Meanwhile" by Dante Ramos;
The Global Edition of The New York Times; June 19-20, 2010; page 9.
electronic fence
An electronic barrier consisting of anti-intrusion devices and warning systems, installed across a demilitarized zone to detect violators or intruders.
electronic fetal monitor, EFM
An instrument which allows observations of the fetal heart rate and the maternal uterine contractions.

It may be applied externally or internally.

With an external monitor, the fetal heart is detected by an ultrasound transducer positioned on the abdomen.

Internal monitoring of the fetal heart rate is accomplished with an electrode clipped to the fetal scalp.

electronic fetal monitoring, EFM
1. The use of an electronic device to monitor the vital signs of the fetus or unborn child.
2. An instrument that allows the observation of the fetal heart rates and the maternal uterine contractions which may be applied externally or internally.

With an external monitor, the fetal heart is detected by an ultrasound transducer positioned on the abdomen.

Internal monitoring of the fetal heart rate is accomplished by way of an electrode clipped to the fetal scalp.

electronic fix (s) (noun), electronic fixes (pl)
A navigational fix that is determined by electronic methods; such as, by the use of LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) or a long-range, accurate radio navigational system used by a ship or aircraft to confirm or to determine its geographical position or fix: The captain of the ship used an electronic fix to establish his position in the ocean.
electronic flame safeguard
1. In a burner system, an electrode which acts as a safety valve by interrupting the fuel flow from the main burner when its flame is not available.
2. The electrode used in a burner system that detects the main burner flame and interrupts fuel flow if the flame is not indicated.
electronic flash unit
A small xenon-filled tube with metal electrodes fused into ends.

The gas flashes brilliantly when a capacitor is discharged through the tube.

electronic flash, flashtube, strobe light
1. A flash lamp, usually attached to a camera or housed within the camera body, which produces brilliant flashes of light by the discharge of electric current through a gas-filled tube.
2. A high-intensity flashing beam of light produced by charging a capacitor to a very high voltage then discharging it as a high-intensity flash of light in a tube.
3. A lamp that produces very short, intense flashes of light by means of an electric discharge in a gas.

The ability of strobe lights, or electronic flashes, to "freeze" the motion of rapidly moving objects by making them visible for only a fraction of a second makes them very useful in photography and in measuring vibration and other types of high-speed motion.

electronic formula
A structural formula in which the bonds are replaced by dots which indicate pairs of electrons.

A single bond is equivalent to one pair of electrons shared by two atoms.

electronic frequency synthesizer
An instrument that generates two or more selectable frequencies from one or more fixed-frequency sources.
electronic fuel injection
1. The forced injection of fuel under pressure into an automobile or truck engine, using electronic control.
2. A system which injects fuel into an engine and includes an electronic control unit to time and meter or measure the flow.

Fuel is delivered in intermittent pulses by the opening and closing of solenoid-controlled injectors.

electronic funds transfer system, EFTS (s) (noun), electronic funds transfer systems (pl)
1. A payment system in which the processing and communications necessary to effect monetary exchanges and the processing and communications necessary to effect financial exchanges and the processing and communications necessary for the production and distribution of the services that are incidental or related to the exchanges are dependent completely or in a large part on the use of electronics.
2. Electronic banking transactions conducted through computerized systems; such as, electronic funds transfer by automated-teller machines, intended to speed operations, to reduce costs, etc.

A customer inserts a magnetically encoded plastic card into the terminal, and then presses the appropriate keys to make deposits or withdrawals, transfer money to pay bills, and even to borrow money.

Such financial exchanges are dependent wholly or in a large part on the use of electronics.

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.