*trica*

{ } a. Of or pertaining to alkalimetry. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Like the altrices. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. amphitheatricus. ] Of, pertaining to, exhibited in, or resembling, an amphitheater. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the form or manner of an amphitheater. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to anemometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to anthropometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. anti- + magistrical for magistratical. ] Opposed to the office or authority of magistrates. [ Obs. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to, or measured by, an areometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ See Asymmetrous. ] 1. Incommensurable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not symmetrical; wanting proportion; esp., not bilaterally symmetrical. Huxley. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to the barometer; made or indicated by a barometer; as, barometric changes; barometrical observations. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By means of a barometer, or according to barometric observations. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to bathymetry; relating to the measurement of depths, especially of depths in the sea. -- Bath`y*met"ric*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

{ } a. [ Pref. cata + dioptric: cf. F. catadioptrique. ] (Physics) Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light. Hutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;. See Catopter. ] Of or pertaining to catoptrics; produced by reflection. [ 1913 Webster ]

Catoptric light, a light in which the rays are concentrated by reflectors into a beam visible at a distance. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Placed in the center or middle; central; situated at or near a center. [ 1913 Webster ]

At York or some other centrical place. Sir W. Scott.

-- Cen"tric*al*ly, adv. -- Cen"tric*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. chronométrique. ] Pertaining to a chronometer; measured by a chronometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , a. [ F. concentrique. See Concenter. ] Having a common center, as circles of different size, one within another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Concentric circles upon the surface of the water. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Concentrical rings like those of an onion. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a concentric manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to craniometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. 1. Of or pertaining to a diameter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. As remote as possible, as if at the opposite end of a diameter; directly adverse. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a diametrical manner; directly; as, diametrically opposite. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose principles were diametrically opposed to his. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_; belonging to the use of the &unr_;; &unr_; = dia` through + the root of &unr_; I shall see: cf. F. dioptrique. ] Of or pertaining to dioptrics; assisting vision by means of the refraction of light; refractive; as, the dioptric system; a dioptric glass or telescope. “Dioptrical principles.” Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dioptric curve (Geom.), a Cartesian oval. See under Cartesian. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To disentangle. [ R. ] “To disintricate the question.” Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not having symmetry; asymmetrical; unsymmetrical. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to a dynameter.

{ } a. Relating to a dynamometer, or to the measurement of force doing work; as, dynamometrical instruments. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Eccentric. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an eccentric manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Drove eccentrically here and there. Lew Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } 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. électrique. 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), the torpedo. --
Electric telegraph. See Telegraph. [ 1913 Webster ]

, same as electricity{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

, 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 ]

1. the light produced by a current of electricity which in passing through a resisting medium heats it to incandescence or burns it. See under Carbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a lamp whose light is produced by passing an electric current through a light bulb, especially an incandescent lamp. [ PJC ]

adv. In the manner of electricity, or by means of it; thrillingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. The state or quality of being electrical. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. électrométrique. ] Pertaining to electrometry; made by means of an electrometer; as, an electrometrical experiment. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to a eudiometer; as, eudiometrical experiments or results. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. 1. Same as Eccentric, Eccentrical. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) One-sided; having the normally central portion not in the true center. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being extricated. Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Extricated p. pr. & vb. n. Extricating ] [ L. extricatus, p. p. of extricare to extricate; ex out + tricae trifles, impediments, perplexities. Cf. Intricate. ] 1. To free, as from difficulties or perplexities; to disentangle; to disembarrass; as, to extricate a person from debt, peril, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

We had now extricated ourselves from the various labyrinths and defiles. Eustace. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to be emitted or evolved; as, to extricate heat or moisture.

Syn. -- To disentangle; disembarrass; disengage; relieve; evolve; set free; liberate. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. freed from an entanglement or difficulty.
Syn. -- disentangled, freed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act or process of extricating or disentangling; a freeing from perplexities; disentanglement. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of sending out or evolving. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to the measurement of gases; as, gasometric analysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + ke`ntron center: cf. F. géocentrique. ] (Astron.) (a) Having, considering, or based on, the earth as center; as, the geocentric theory of the universe; in relation to or seen from the earth, -- usually opposed to heliocentric, as seen from the sun; as, the geocentric longitude or latitude of a planet. [ 1913 Webster + Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Geocentric latitude (of place) the angle included between the radius of the earth through the place and the plane of the equator, in distinction from geographic latitude. It is a little less than the geographic latitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a geocentric manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. geometricus; Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. géométrique. ] 1. Pertaining to, or according to the rules or principles of, geometry; determined by geometry; as, a geometrical solution of a problem. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Art) characterized by simple geometric forms in design and decoration; as, a buffalo hide painted with red and black geometrical designs.
Syn. -- geometric. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

☞ Geometric is often used, as opposed to algebraic, to include processes or solutions in which the propositions or principles of geometry are made use of rather than those of algebra. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Geometrical is often used in a limited or strictly technical sense, as opposed to mechanical; thus, a construction or solution is geometrical which can be made by ruler and compasses, i. e., by means of right lines and circles. Every construction or solution which requires any other curve, or such motion of a line or circle as would generate any other curve, is not geometrical, but mechanical. By another distinction, a geometrical solution is one obtained by the rules of geometry, or processes of analysis, and hence is exact; while a mechanical solution is one obtained by trial, by actual measurements, with instruments, etc., and is only approximate and empirical. [ 1913 Webster ]

Geometrical curve. Same as Algebraic curve; -- so called because their different points may be constructed by the operations of elementary geometry. --
Geometric lathe, an instrument for engraving bank notes, etc., with complicated patterns of interlacing lines; -- called also cycloidal engine. --
Geometrical pace, a measure of five feet. --
Geometric pen, an instrument for drawing geometric curves, in which the movements of a pen or pencil attached to a revolving arm of adjustable length may be indefinitely varied by changing the toothed wheels which give motion to the arm. --
Geometrical plane (Persp.), the same as Ground plane . --
Geometrical progression,
proportion,
ratio. See under Progression, Proportion and Ratio. --
Geometrical radius, in gearing, the radius of the pitch circle of a cogwheel. Knight. --
Geometric spider (Zool.), one of many species of spiders, which spin a geometrical web. They mostly belong to Epeira and allied genera, as the garden spider. See Garden spider. --
Geometric square, a portable instrument in the form of a square frame for ascertaining distances and heights by measuring angles. --
Geometrical staircase, one in which the stairs are supported by the wall at one end only. --
Geometrical tracery, in architecture and decoration, tracery arranged in geometrical figures. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. According to the rules or laws of geometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, a. Pertaining to, or determined by means of, a goniometer; trigonometric. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Helio- + centric, centrical: cf. F. héliocentrique. ] (Astron.) pertaining to the sun's center, or appearing to be seen from it; having, or relating to, the sun as a center; -- opposed to geocentrical. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heliocentric parallax. See under Parallax. --
Heliocentric place,
latitude,
longitude, etc. (of a heavenly body), the direction, latitude, longitude, etc., of the body as viewed from the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]