electronic

[ih-lek-tron-ik, ee-lek-]

adjective

1. of or relating to electronics or to devices, circuits, or systems developed through electronics.

2. of or relating to electrons or to an electron.

3. (of a musical instrument) using electric or electronic means to produce or modify the sound.

4. of, relating to, or controlled by computers or computerized systems: an electronic document.

   electronic voting;

   an electronic document.

5. of or noting computerized products, services, or technologies: electronic banking.

   online electronic dictionaries;

   electronic banking.

electronic

/ ˌiːlɛk-, ɪlɛkˈtrɒnɪk /

adjective

1. of, concerned with, using, or operated by devices in which electrons are conducted through a semiconductor, free space, or gas

2. of or concerned with electronics

3. of or concerned with electrons or an electron

   an electronic energy level in a molecule

4. involving or concerned with the representation, storage, or transmission of information by electronic systems

   electronic mail

   electronic shopping

electronic

1. Relating to electrical devices that amplify and process electrical signals. Audio amplifiers, radios, and digital circuitry are electronic devices.

2. ◆ The scientific study of the behavior and design of electronic devices and circuits is called electronics.

3. Compare electric

Usage

Electronic is used to refer to equipment, such as television sets, computers, etc, in which the current is controlled by transistors, valves, and similar components and also to the components themselves. Electrical is used in a more general sense, often to refer to the use of electricity as a whole as opposed to other forms of energy: electrical engineering; an electrical appliance. Electric, in many cases used interchangeably with electrical, is often restricted to the description of particular devices or to concepts relating to the flow of current: electric fire; electric charge

Other Word Forms

• electronically adverb
• interelectronic adjective
• nonelectronic adjective
• preelectronic adjective
• unelectronic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of electronic¹

First recorded in 1900–05; electron + -ic

Example Sentences

Major U.S. industries — from electronics to automotive manufacturing — rely heavily on Chinese components containing rare earths.

Read more on Salon

I’ve tried every kind of electronic reminder to force myself to get up from my desk and stretch, but I always ignored the notifications.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A First Brands manager described Patrick James as generous, and said he received holiday gift baskets that contained wine, expensive electronics and vouchers for vacations worth thousands of dollars.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In electronics, a Wi-Fi router or Ethernet switch sends digital information from multiple input sources to the correct output port, ensuring every signal reaches its destination.

Read more on Science Daily

The art program is among the 14 social enterprises operated by Homeboy, Boyle said, that include food service, dog grooming and electronic recycling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• computerized www.thesaurus.com