electricity
/ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.43 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
5
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Originally, a property of amber and certain other nonconducting substances to attract lightweight material when rubbed, or the cause of this property; now understood to be a phenomenon caused by the distribution and movement of charged subatomic particles and their interaction with the electromagnetic field.
Uncountable
noun
The study of electrical phenomena; the branch of science dealing with such phenomena.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Again, the concretion of Ice will not endure a dry attrition without liquation ; for if it be rubbed long with a cloth, it melteth. But Cryſtal will calefie unto electricity ; that is, a power to attract ſtraws or light bodies, and convert the needle freely placed."
- "For, reſtoring the equilibrium in the bottle does not at all affect the Electricity in the man thro’ whom the fire paſſes ; that Electricity is neither increaſed nor diminiſhed."
- "Attraction, then, is the first phenomenon that arrests our attention, and it is one that is constantly attendant on excitation. It is therefore considered a sure indicator of the presence of electricity in an active state, and forms the basis of all its tests."
- "We may express all these results in a concise and consistent manner by describing an electrified body as charged with a certain quantity of electricity, which we may denote by e."
- "How does it work, though? It's based on the observation made some 200 years ago that electricity can change the shape of flames."
- "He took up the job of studying electricity in college."
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron)bor. Latin ēlectrum Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus New Latin ēlectricusbor. English electric Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English electricity From electric + -ity.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/
- British English: /ˌiːlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/