Jump to:

• ICS
  ICS

  International College of Surgeons.
• -ics
  -ics

  a suffix of nouns that denote a body of facts, knowledge, principles, etc., usually corresponding to adjectives ending in -ic or -ical: ethics; physics; politics; tactics .

ICS

¹ American  

1. International College of Surgeons.

---

-ics ² American  

1. a suffix of nouns that denote a body of facts, knowledge, principles, etc., usually corresponding to adjectives ending in -ic or -ical: ethics; physics; politics; tactics .

---

-ics ¹ British  

suffix

1. indicating a science, art, or matters relating to a particular subject

   aeronautics

   politics

2. indicating certain activities or practices

   acrobatics

---

ICS ² British  

abbreviation

1. Indian Civil Service

---

Grammar

Nouns ending in -ics that name fields of study, sciences, arts, professions, or the like are usually not preceded by an article and are used with a singular verb: Acoustics (the science) deals with sound. Politics (the art of government) fascinates me. In certain uses, often when preceded by a determiner like the, his, her, or their, most of these nouns can take a plural verb: The acoustics (the sound-reflecting qualities) of the hall are splendid. Their politics (political opinions) have antagonized everyone.

Etymology

Origin of -ics

Plural of -ic, representing Latin -ica (< Greek -ika, neuter plural of -ikos ), as in rhētórica (plural) rhetoric book

Example Sentences

See -ism. -ics, lit. things that belong to a science, as mathematics.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various