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IC
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-ic
-ica suffix forming adjectives from other parts of speech, occurring originally in Greek and Latin loanwords (metallic; poetic; archaic; public ) and, on this model, used as an adjective-forming suffix with the particular senses “having some characteristics of” (opposed to the simple attributive use of the base noun) (balletic; sophomoric ); “in the style of” (Byronic; Miltonic ); “pertaining to a family of peoples or languages” (Finnic; Semitic; Turkic ).
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I.C.
I.C.abbreviationJesus Christ.
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i/c
i/cabbreviationin charge (of)
IC
1 American-
a suffix forming adjectives from other parts of speech, occurring originally in Greek and Latin loanwords (metallic; poetic; archaic; public ) and, on this model, used as an adjective-forming suffix with the particular senses “having some characteristics of” (opposed to the simple attributive use of the base noun) (balletic; sophomoric ); “in the style of” (Byronic; Miltonic ); “pertaining to a family of peoples or languages” (Finnic; Semitic; Turkic ).
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Chemistry. a suffix, specialized in opposition to -ous, used to show the higher of two valences.
ferric chloride.
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a noun suffix occurring chiefly in loanwords from Greek, where such words were originally adjectival (critic; magic; music ).
abbreviation
abbreviation
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internal-combustion
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electronics integrated circuit
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text messaging I see
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(in transformational grammar) immediate constituent
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astrology Imum Coeli: the point on the ecliptic lying directly opposite the Midheaven
suffix
abbreviation
Etymology
Origin of -ic2
Middle English -ic, -ik, from Latin -icus; in many words representing the cognate Greek -ikos (directly or through Latin ); in some words replacing -ique, from French, from Latin -icus
Origin of I.C.3
< Latin I ( ēsus ) C ( hrīstus )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The analyst attributes this to lower losses at subsidiaries Hana Technologies and Power Master Semiconductor and higher sales of its IC divisions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
IC: I think people don’t realize that it is ultimately a lot of bravery and self-sacrifice in order to keep your sister’s memory alive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025
“Nexperia makes chips that are fundamental to virtually every modern vehicle,” says Nick Paul, general manager for United Kingdom–based supply chain specialist IC Blue.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2025
In recent years, thousands of Tibetans in India have emigrated to Western countries using the IC, which some nations accept for visa applications.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2025
I had nearly two days before IC caught on, and by then you knew.
From Insidekick by Bone, Jesse F. (Jesse Franklin)
In words belonging to chemistry derivatives in -ic denote the acid containing most oxygen, when more than one is formed: as nitric acid.
From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton
A ternary acid with the termination -ic gives a salt with the name ending in -ate, while an acid with termination -ous gives a salt with the name ending in -ite.
From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William
The most familiar one of these is given a name ending in the suffix -ic, while the one with less oxygen is given a similar name, but ending in the suffix -ous.
From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William
They are given names consisting of the prefix hydro-, the name of the second element present, and the termination -ic.
From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William
An acid terminating in -ous forms a salt ending in -ite, and an oxyacid ending in -ic forms a salt ending in -ate.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various
Restrictions due to Covid meant he spent less time at the gym and more online, until Anne gave him a copy of I.C.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026
The Pirates just so happened to be in Los Angeles facing the Dodgers so Bednar, a Pittsburgh native, sent a few cans of I.C.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2023
Cruz’s mother, referred to in the lawsuit as I.C., is living in a different facility today.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2023
“Despite intensive and comprehensive efforts, the I.C. has not identified any compelling leads that have withstood scrutiny and point to foreign actors,” a statement by the National Intelligence Council said.
From New York Times ● Mar. 1, 2023
I didn' marry for a good while an' den I went to work on de I.C.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Mississippi Narratives by Work Projects Administration
Think of the kindly interest which prompted the O. i/c Records to insert a form of receipt—"to guard against impersonation."
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 153, October 3, 1917 by Various
Two months went by, during which the O. i/c Records made no further additions to our postbag.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 153, October 3, 1917 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.