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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Electrical brush

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.

  2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an electric or electrical machine or substance; an electric generator.

  3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. ``Electric Pindar.''
    --Mrs. Browning.

  4. powered by electricity; as, electrical appliances; an electric toothbrush; an electric automobile.

    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.

Electrical brush

Brush \Brush\ (br[u^]sh), n. [OE. brusche, OF. broche, broce, brosse, brushwood, F. brosse brush, LL. brustia, bruscia, fr. OHG. brusta, brust, bristle, G. borste bristle, b["u]rste brush. See Bristle, n., and cf. Browse.]

  1. An instrument composed of bristles, or other like material, set in a suitable back or handle, as of wood, bone, or ivory, and used for various purposes, as in removing dust from clothes, laying on colors, etc. Brushes have different shapes and names according to their use; as, clothes brush, paint brush, tooth brush, etc.

  2. The bushy tail of a fox.

  3. (Zo["o]l.) A tuft of hair on the mandibles.

  4. Branches of trees lopped off; brushwood.

  5. A thicket of shrubs or small trees; the shrubs and small trees in a wood; underbrush.

  6. land covered with brush[5]; in Australia, a dense growth of vegetation in good soil, including shrubs and trees, mostly small.

  7. (Elec.) A bundle of flexible wires or thin plates of metal, used to conduct an electrical current to or from the commutator of a dynamo, electric motor, or similar apparatus.

  8. The act of brushing; as, to give one's clothes a brush; a rubbing or grazing with a quick motion; a light touch; as, we got a brush from the wheel as it passed.

    [As leaves] have with one winter's brush Fell from their boughts.
    --Shak.

  9. A skirmish; a slight encounter; a shock or collision; as, to have a brush with an enemy; a brush with the law.

    Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
    --Shak.

  10. A short contest, or trial, of speed.

    Let us enjoy a brush across the country.
    --Cornhill Mag.

    Electrical brush, a form of the electric discharge characterized by a brushlike appearance of luminous rays diverging from an electrified body.

Usage examples of "electrical brush".

Heller was pulling a wire from the car engine area and putting in place something that looked like an electrical brush.

A fine violet electrical brush played over them as they sprayed their controlled static field.