electric current
    n 1: a flow of electricity through a conductor; "the current was
         measured in amperes" [syn: current, electric current]

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]

Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\ ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[y^]),
   n.; pl. Electricities ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[i^]z).
   [Cf. F. ['e]lectricit['e]. See Electric.]
   1. (Physics) a property of certain of the fundamental
      particles of which matter is composed, called also
      electric charge, and being of two types, designated
      positive and negative; the property of electric charge on
      a particle or physical body creates a force field which
      affects other particles or bodies possessing electric
      charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between
      them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force.
      A positively charged body and a negatively charged body
      will create an attractive force between them. The unit of
      electrical charge is the coulomb, and the intensity of
      the force field at any point is measured in volts.
      [PJC]

   2. any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation
      or movement of electrically charged particles within
      material bodies, classified as static electricity and
      electric current. Static electricity is often observed
      in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to
      cling together; when sufficient static charge is
      accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air
      between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible
      spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another
      object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful
      sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is
      put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic
      devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric
      current passing between clouds and the ground, or between
      two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light,
      concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between
      objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
      space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of
      a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object
      may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of
      molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical,
      or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most
      other solid coductors is carried by the movement of
      electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic
      solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement
      of charged particles may be responsible for the observed
      electrical current.
      [PJC]

   Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
         forms: (a)

   Statical electricity, called also

   Frictional electricity or Common electricity, electricity
      in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the
      disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber,
      etc., or by induction. (b)

   Dynamical electricity, called also

   Voltaic electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current
      produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
      voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
      dynamo-electric machines. (c)

   Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat
      (attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
      developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
      and then heating the bar unequally. (d)

   Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical
      disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
      all of the above mentioned causes. (e)

   Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by the action
      of magnets. (f)

   Positive electricity, the electricity that appears at the
      positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
      by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous
      electricity. (g)

   Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the
      negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
      of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
      electricity. (h)

   Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic
      structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
      electricity being much more common.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The science which studies the phenomena and laws of
      electricity; electrical science.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension,
      usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of
      something unusual or important.

electric current \electric current\, electrical current
\electrical current\,
   the movement of electrically charged particles, atoms, or
   ions, through solids, liquids, gases, or free space; the term
   is usually used of relatively smooth movements of electric
   charge through conductors, whether constant or variable.
   Sudden movements of charge are usually referred to by other
   terms, such as spark or lightning or discharge. In
   metallic conductors the electric current is usually due to
   movement of electrons through the metal. The current is
   measured as the rate of movement of charge per unit time, and
   is counted in units of amperes. As a formal definition, the
   direction of movement of electric current is considered as
   the same as the direction of movement of positive charge, or
   in a direction opposite to the movement of negative charge.
   Electric current may move constantly in a single direction,
   called direct current (abbreviated DC), or may move
   alternately in one direction and then the opposite direction,
   called alternating current (abbreviated AC).
   [PJC]