electrician
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is connected to a piece of equipment which makes the
sound louder. Electric guitars are especially used in popular
music.
el·ec·tri·cian /ɪˌlekˈtrɪʃən, ˌelɪk-/ n a person whose job is
to fit and repair electrical apparatus
e·lec·tric·i·ty /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti, ˌelɪk-/ n [U] 1 the power which
is produced by various means (e.g. by a BATTERY or GENERA-
TOR), which is carried usually by wires, and which provides
heat and light, drives machines etc 2 a feeling of great
excitement, especially one that spreads through a group of
people
eˌlecˈtricity supˌply n the flow of electricity to a building,
machine etc: If you don't pay your electricity bill, your
electricity supply will be cut off.
e·lec·trics /ɪˈlektrɪks/ n [P] BrE infml the wires and other
equipment that work an electrical (part of an) apparatus: I
don't know why the car won't start; perhaps it's a problem in
the electrics.
eˌlectric ˈshock n a shock to the body caused by electri-
city: I got an electric shock when I touched that wire.
eˌlectric shock ˌtherapy also e·lec·tro·con·vul·sive
therapy /ɪˌlektrəʊkənvʌlsɪv ˈθerəpi/ n [U] med the treat-
ment of MENTAL ILLNESS (=disorders of the mind) by passing
a small electric current through the brain. This is a very
CONTROVERSIAL method of treatment.
e·lec·tri·fy /ɪˈlektrɪʃfaɪ/ v [T] 1 to change (something) to a
system using electric power: The national railway system has
nearly all been electrified. 2 to excite greatly: The band gave
an electrifying performance. —fication /ɪˌlektrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ n
[U]
electro- ➔ see WORD FORMATION TABLE
e·lec·tro·car·di·o·gram /ˌɪlektrəʊˈkɑːdiəɡræm||-ˈkɑːr-/ n
med ➔ see ECG
e·lec·tro·car·di·o·graph
/ˌɪlektrəʊˈkɑːdiəɡrɑːf||
-ˈkɑrdiəɡræf/ n med ➔ see ECG
e·lec·tro·cute /ɪˈlektrəkjuːt/ v [T] to wound or kill by
passing electricity through the body —cution
/ˌɪlektrəˈkjuːʃən/ n [C;U]
e·lec·trode /ɪˈlektrəʊd/ n either of the two points (TERMI-
NALS) at which the current enters and leaves a BATTERY or
other electrical apparatus ➔ see also ANODE, CATHODE
e·lec·tro·en·ceph·a·lo·gram /ˌɪlektrəʊɪnˈsefələɡræm,
-ˌtrəen-/ n med ➔ see EEG
e·lec·tro·en·ceph·a·lo·graph /ˌɪlektrəʊɪnˈsefələɡrɑːf,
-ˌtrəʊen-||-ɡræf/ n med ➔ see EEG
E·lec·tro·lux /ɪˈlektrəlʌks/ trademark a BRAND (=type) of elec-
trical products such as VACUUM CLEANERS, REFRIGERATORS,
and WASHING MACHINES made by the company Electrolux
e·lec·trol·y·sis /ɪˌlekˈtrɒləsɪs, ˌelɪk-||-ˈtrɑ-/ n [U] 1 the
separation of a liquid into its chemical parts by passing
electricity through it from an ANODE to a CATHODE 2 the
destruction of hair roots by means of an electric current.
Electrolysis is used to permanently remove unwanted hair
on the legs, arms, and face, especially by women: You can
have the hairs on your legs removed by electrolysis.
e·lec·tro·lyte /ɪˈlektrəlaɪt/ n a liquid, such as COPPER SUL-
PHATE, which can be broken down into its chemical parts by
passing electricity through it —lytic /ˌɪlektrəˈlɪtɪk/ adj
e·lec·tro·mag·net·ism /ˌɪlektrəʊˈmæɡnətɪzəm/ n [U]
one of the four FUNDAMENTAL FORCES in the universe, caused
by the movement and exchange of positively and negatively
charged bits of matter in atoms —tic /-mæɡˈnetɪk/ adj
e·lec·tron /ɪˈlektrɒn||-trɑːn/ n a very small piece of matter
that moves round the NUCLEUS (=central part) of an atom
and that by its movement causes an electric current in
metal. It carries a negative charge (CHARGE) ➔ see also
NEUTRON, PROTON
el·ec·tron·ic
/ɪˌlekˈtrɒnɪk,
ˌelɪkˈtrɒnɪk || -ˈtrɑː-/
adj 1 using CHIPS, TRANSISTORS, or VALVES which have an
effect on the electricity going through a piece of equipment,
for example a radio, television, or computer 2 using elec-
tronic equipment: electronic warfare | electronic music | a
factory that makes electronic components | I don't understand
all this electronic wizardry that goes into making a computer.
➔ compare ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL —~ally /-kli/ adv
ˌelectronic ˈbanking also e-banking n [U] a service
provided by banks that allows people to pay money from
one account to another, pay bills etc using the Internet
ˌelectronic ˈdata ˌinterchange abbrev. EDI n [U] tech a
way for companies and banks to send information to each
other by computer using an agreed FORMAT, so that the
company receiving the documents can easily read them on
their computer and print them out on paper
ˌelectronic ˈfunds ˌtransfer n [U] a system of moving
money from one place to another very safely and quickly by
computer, used internationally by banks, shops etc
ˌelectronic ˈmail n [U] ➔ see EMAIL
ˌelectronic ˈorganizer n a small piece of electronic equip-
ment that you can use to record addresses, telephone
numbers, dates of meetings etc
ˌelectronic ˈpublishing n [U] the business of producing
books, magazines, or newspapers that are designed to be
read using a computer
el·ec·tron·ics /ɪˌlekˈtrɒnɪks, ˌelɪk-||-ˈtrɑː-/ n [U] the study
or making of apparatus that works electronically: She works
in electronics/in the electronics industry.
ˌelectronic ˈtagging n [U] a way of punishing people who
have committed crimes that are not very serious. The crimi-
nal is allowed to go home, but has a special band (electronic
tag) containing electronic equipment around their wrist or
ANKLE so that the police can always know where they are.
eˌlectron ˈmicroscope n a microscope which uses a beam
of electrons to make very small things large enough to see
e·lec·tro·plate¹ /ɪˈlektrəʊpleɪt/ v [T] to coat (an object)
thinly with metal by using ELECTROLYSIS: Are these spoons
solid silver or electroplated? ➔ see also EPNS
electroplate² n [U] electroplated goods
e·lec·tro·stat·ic
dep·o·si·tion
a·nal·y·sis
/ˌɪlektrəʊstætɪk depəˈzɪʃən əˌnæləˈsɪs, -di:-/ n ➔ see ESDA-
TEST
el·e·gant /ˈelɪɡənt/ adj apprec 1 having the qualities of grace
and beauty; stylish: an elegant woman | elegant
clothes/manners | an elegant piece of furniture ➔ opposite
INELEGANT 2 (of an idea) pleasingly neat and simple: an
elegant piece of reasoning —~ly adv —~gance n [U]
el·e·gi·ac /ˌelɪˈdʒaɪæk/ adj fml connected with elegies, espe-
cially expressing sorrow for something that is lost: His
description of his youth at the end of the 19th century has an
elegiac quality. —~ally /-kli/ adv
el·e·gy /ˈelədʒi/ n a poem or song written to show sorrow for
the dead or for something lost
el·e·ment /ˈelɪmənt/ n 1 [C] any of more than a hundred
simple substances that consist of atoms of only one kind
and that, alone or in combination, make up all substances:
Both hydrogen and oxygen are elements, but water, which is
formed when they combine, is not. 2 [S+of] (a small amount
of) a quality which can be noticed: There is an element of
truth (=some truth) in what you say. | The darkness and fog
gave the attackers the element of surprise. | There's always an
element of risk in this sort of investment. 3 [C] a part of a
whole; COMPONENT: Honesty is an important element in any-
one's character. 4 [C] also elements pl. a particular group of
people, especially people who are regarded with disapproval
within a larger whole: There's a rowdy element in this class
that seems determined to spoil things for the rest. | lawless
elements in the crowd. 5 [C] the heating part of a piece of
electrical apparatus: The element of this electric kettle has
broken. 6 [C] old use any of the four substances earth, air,
fire, and water, from which (it was formerly believed)
everything material was made 7 in/out of one's element
doing/not doing what one is happiest or best at doing ➔ see
also ELEMENTS
el·e·men·tal /ˌelɪˈmentl/ adj of or like a great force of
nature: The storm struck with elemental fury. ➔ see also
ELEMENTS
el·e·men·ta·ry /ˌelɪˈmentəri/ adj 1 simple and easy: The
question/answer is elementary. Many people know and use
Sherlock Holmes's phrase 'Elementary, my dear Watson' when
someone asks them a question which seems difficult except to
them. 2 concerning or introducing the first and most simple