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 engine, electric propulsion system, electric rocket
1. In rocketry, a reaction engine in which the propellant is accelerated by an electrical device.
2. A rocket engine in which the propellant is accelerated by some electric device.
electric fence
1. A wire fence containing high-voltage, low-current intermittent pulses that are activated when the fence is touched.
2. A fence consisting of one or more lengths of wire energized with high-voltage, low-current pulses, and giving a warning shock when touched.
3. A wire fence carrying an electric current which gives a mild electric shock to any human or animal that touches it.
electric field
1. A region in space in which lines of force produced by an electric charge exert a force on other electric charges.
2. A region in space in which a stationary electric charge experiences a force due to its charge.
3. The area around an electrically charged body in which other charged bodies are acted on by an attracting or repelling force.
4. The lines of force exerted on charged ions in the bodily tissues by the electrodes that cause charged particles to move from one pole to another pole.
5. One of the fundamental fields in nature, causing a charged body to be attracted to or repelled by other charged bodies.

Associated with an electromagnetic wave or a changing magnetic field.

The electric field is stronger where the field lines are close together than where they are farther apart.

The value of the electric field has dimensions of force per unit charge and is measured in units of newtons per coulomb.

electric field effect, Stark effect
1. The effect on spectrum lines of an electric field which is either externally applied or is an internal field caused by the presence of neighboring ions or atoms in a gas, liquid, or solid.
2. The effect of an electric field on spectrum lines.

The electric field may be externally applied; but in many cases it is an internal field caused by the presence of neighboring ions or atoms in a gas, liquid, or solid.

electric filter, electric wave filter, frequency selective device, frequency-selective device
1. A circuit that passes selected frequencies of alternating currents while weakening other frequencies.
2. A network that transmits alternating currents of desired frequencies while substantially attenuating all other frequencies.
electric firing mechanism
A firing mechanism which uses a firing magneto, battery, or alternating-current power in circuit with an electric primer.

One side of the line is connected by an insulated wire to the primer, and the other side is grounded to the frame of the weapon.

electric fish
Any of several fish that produce an electric shock by means of special organs; such as, the electric eel, electric ray, or the electric catfish.
electric flowmeter
A fluid-flow measurement device relying on an inductance or impedance bridge or on electrical-resistance rod elements to sense flow-rate variations.
electric force
A force between two objects such that each has the physical property of charge.
electric forming
1. A process in which electric energy is applied to a device; such as, a semiconductor, so as to permanently change its electrical characteristics.
2. The procedure used when applying electric energy to a semiconductor or other device to permanently modify its electrical characteristics.
electric furnace
1. A furnace in which the heat required is produced with electricity.
2. Any furnace which by using the heating effect of an electric current, allows very high temperatures to be achieved.
electric fuse, fuse
A safety device that protects electric circuits from the effects of excessive electric currents.

A fuse commonly consists of a current-conducting strip or wire of easily fusible metal; whenever the circuit is made to carry a current larger than that for which it is intended, the strip melts to interrupt it.

electric gathering locomotive, gathering motor, gathering locomotive, gathering mine locomotive
A lightweight type of electric locomotive used to haul loaded cars from working places to the main haulage road and to replace them with empty cars.
electric generator, generator
1. A machine which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

In its most common form, a large number of conductors are mounted on an armature which is rotated in a magnetic field produced by field coils.

2. A vacuum-tube oscillator or any other non-rotating device that generates an alternating voltage at a desired frequency when energized with direct-current power or low-frequency alternating-current power.
3. A circuit that generates a desired repetitive or non-repetitive waveform; such as, a pulse generator.
electric guitar
1. A guitar with a built-in contact microphone that amplifies sound produced by the guitar strings and allows various adjustments of characteristics of the sound.
2. A guitar in which a contact microphone placed under the strings picks up the acoustic vibrations for amplification and for reproduction by a loudspeaker.

Volume and tone controls are usually also available.

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.