Electric eel

Electric eel
Electric E*lec"tric ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]k), Electrical E*lec"tric*al ([-e]*l[e^]k"tr[i^]*kal), a. [L. electrum amber, a mixed metal, Gr. 'h`lektron; akin to 'hle`ktwr the beaming sun, cf. Skr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. ['e]lectrique. The name came from the production of electricity by the friction of amber.] 1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing, derived from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark; an electric charge; an electric current; an electrical engineer. [1913 Webster]

2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance; an electric generator. [1913 Webster]

3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. ``Electric Pindar.'' --Mrs. Browning. [1913 Webster]

4. powered by electricity; as, electrical appliances; an electric toothbrush; an electric automobile. [WordNet 1.5]

{Electric atmosphere}, or {Electric aura}. See under {Aura}.

{Electrical battery}. See {Battery}.

{Electrical brush}. See under {Brush}.

{Electric cable}. See {Telegraph cable}, under {Telegraph}.

{Electric candle}. See under {Candle}.

{Electric cat} (Zo["o]l.), one of three or more large species of African catfish of the genus {Malapterurus} (esp. {M. electricus} of the Nile). They have a large electrical organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also {sheathfish}.

{Electric clock}. See under {Clock}, and see {Electro-chronograph}.

{Electric current}, a current or stream of electricity traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to another which is in a different electrical state.

{Electric eel}, or {Electrical eel} (Zo["o]l.), a South American eel-like fresh-water fish of the genus {Gymnotus} ({G. electricus}), from two to five feet in length, capable of giving a violent electric shock. See {Gymnotus}.

{Electrical fish} (Zo["o]l.), any fish which has an electrical organ by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known kinds are the {torpedo}, the {gymnotus}, or {electrical eel}, and the {electric cat}. See {Torpedo}, and {Gymnotus}.

{Electric fluid}, the supposed matter of electricity; lightning. [archaic]

{Electrical image} (Elec.), a collection of electrical points regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image of certain other electrical points, and used in the solution of electrical problems. --Sir W. Thomson.

{Electric machine}, or {Electrical machine}, an apparatus for generating, collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by friction.

{Electric motor}. See {Electro-motor}, 2.

{Electric osmose}. (Physics) See under {Osmose}.

{Electric pen}, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at great speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the penhandle.

{Electric railway}, a railway in which the machinery for moving the cars is driven by an electric current.

{Electric ray} (Zo["o]l.), the torpedo.

{Electric telegraph}. See {Telegraph}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • electric eel — n. any of a family (Electrophoridae) of large, eel shaped cyprinoid fishes of N South America, having special organs that can give severe electric shocks …   English World dictionary

  • electric eel — n a large eel shaped bony fish (Electrophorus electricus of the family Electrophoridae) of the Orinoco and Amazon basins that is capable of giving a severe shock with electricity generated by a special tract of tissue …   Medical dictionary

  • electric eel — ► NOUN ▪ a large eel like freshwater fish of South America, which uses pulses of electricity to kill prey, assist in navigation, and for defence …   English terms dictionary

  • Electric eel — Taxobox name = Electric eel image width = 240px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Osteichthyes ordo = Gymnotiformes familia = Gymnotidae genus = Electrophorus species = E. electricus binomial = Electrophorus electricus binomial… …   Wikipedia

  • electric eel — an eellike, freshwater fish, Electrophorus electricus, found in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers and tributaries, sometimes over 6 ft. (1.8 m) long, capable of emitting strong electric discharges. [1785 95] * * * Eel shaped South American fish… …   Universalium

  • electric eel — noun eel shaped freshwater fish of South America having electric organs in its body • Syn: ↑Electrophorus electric • Hypernyms: ↑cypriniform fish • Member Holonyms: ↑Electrophorus, ↑genus Electrophorus * * * noun, pl ⋯ eels [ …   Useful english dictionary

  • electric eel — /əˌlɛktrɪk ˈil/ (say uh.lektrik eel) noun 1. (plural electric eel or electric eels) any of several eel like freshwater fish, especially Electrophorus electricus, of northern South America, having the power of giving strong electric discharges. 2 …  

  • electric eel — elektrinis ungurys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Electrophorus electricus angl. electric eel rus. электрический угорь ryšiai: platesnis terminas – elektriniai unguriai …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Electric Eel Shock — Electric Eel Shock …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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