from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Organic \Or*gan"ic\ ([^o]r*g[a^]n"[i^]k), a. [L. organicus, Gr.
'organiko`s: cf. F. organique.]
1. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to an organ or its functions, or
to objects composed of organs; consisting of organs, or
containing them; as, the organic structure of animals and
plants; exhibiting characters peculiar to living
organisms; as, organic bodies, organic life, organic
remains. Cf. {Inorganic}.
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2. Produced by the organs; as, organic pleasure. [R.]
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3. Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to
a certain destined function or end. [R.]
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Those organic arts which enable men to discourse and
write perspicuously. --Milton.
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4. Forming a whole composed of organs. Hence: Of or
pertaining to a system of organs; inherent in, or
resulting from, a certain organization; as, an organic
government; his love of truth was not inculcated, but
organic.
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5. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to compounds which are
derivatives of hydrocarbons; pertaining to, or denoting,
any one of a large series of carbon-containing compounds
which are related to the carbon compounds produced by
biological processes (such as methane, oils, fats, sugars,
alcohols, ethers, proteins, etc.) and include many
substances of artificial production which may or may not
occur in animals or plants; -- contrasted with
{inorganic}.
Note: Borderline cases exist which may be classified as
either organic or inorganic, such as carbon
terachloride (which may be viewed as a derivative of
methane), but in general a compound must have a carbon
with a hydrogen atom or another carbon atom attached to
it to be viewed as truly organic, i.e. included in the
subject matter of organic chemistry.
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Note: The principles of organic and inorganic chemistry are
identical; but the enormous number and the completeness
of related series of organic compounds, together with
their remarkable facility of exchange and substitution,
offer an illustration of chemical reaction and homology
not to be paralleled in inorganic chemistry.
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{Organic analysis} (Chem.), the analysis of organic
compounds, concerned chiefly with the determination of
carbon as carbon dioxide, hydrogen as water, oxygen as the
difference between the sum of the others and 100 per cent,
and nitrogen as free nitrogen, ammonia, or nitric oxide;
-- formerly called ultimate analysis, in distinction from
proximate analysis.
{Organic chemistry}. See under {Chemistry}.
{Organic compounds}. (Chem.) Chemical substances which are
organic[5]. See {Carbon compounds}, under {Carbon}.
{Organic description of a curve} (Geom.), the description of
a curve on a plane by means of instruments. --Brande & C.
{Organic disease} (Med.), a disease attended with morbid
changes in the structure of the organs of the body or in
the composition of its fluids; -- opposed to {functional
disease}.
{Organic electricity}. See under {Electricity}.
{Organic law} or {Organic laws}, a law or system of laws, or
declaration of principles fundamental to the existence and
organization of a political or other association; a
constitution.
{Organic stricture} (Med.), a contraction of one of the
natural passages of the body produced by structural
changes in its walls, as distinguished from a {spasmodic
stricture}, which is due to muscular contraction.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Electricity \E`lec*tric"i*ty\ ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[y^]),
n.; pl. {Electricities} ([=e]`l[e^]k*tr[i^]s"[i^]*t[i^]z).
[Cf. F. ['e]lectricit['e]. See {Electric}.]
1. (Physics) a property of certain of the fundamental
particles of which matter is composed, called also
{electric charge}, and being of two types, designated
positive and negative; the property of electric charge on
a particle or physical body creates a force field which
affects other particles or bodies possessing electric
charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between
them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force.
A positively charged body and a negatively charged body
will create an attractive force between them. The unit of
electrical charge is the {coulomb}, and the intensity of
the force field at any point is measured in {volts}.
[PJC]
2. any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation
or movement of electrically charged particles within
material bodies, classified as {static electricity} and
{electric current}. Static electricity is often observed
in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to
cling together; when sufficient static charge is
accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air
between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible
spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another
object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful
sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is
put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic
devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric
current passing between clouds and the ground, or between
two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light,
concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between
objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or
space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of
a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object
may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of
molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical,
or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most
other solid coductors is carried by the movement of
electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic
solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement
of charged particles may be responsible for the observed
electrical current.
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Note: Electricity is manifested under following different
forms: (a)
{Statical electricity}, called also
{Frictional electricity} or {Common electricity}, electricity
in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the
disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber,
etc., or by induction. (b)
{Dynamical electricity}, called also
{Voltaic electricity}, electricity in motion, or as a current
produced by chemical decomposition, as by means of a
voltaic battery, or by mechanical action, as by
dynamo-electric machines. (c)
{Thermoelectricity}, in which the disturbing cause is heat
(attended possibly with some chemical action). It is
developed by uniting two pieces of unlike metals in a bar,
and then heating the bar unequally. (d)
{Atmospheric electricity}, any condition of electrical
disturbance in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or
all of the above mentioned causes. (e)
{Magnetic electricity}, electricity developed by the action
of magnets. (f)
{Positive electricity}, the electricity that appears at the
positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is produced
by friction of glass; -- called also {vitreous
electricity}. (g)
{Negative electricity}, the electricity that appears at the
negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction
of resinous substance; -- called also resinous
electricity. (h)
{Organic electricity}, that which is developed in organic
structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal
electricity being much more common.
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3. The science which studies the phenomena and laws of
electricity; electrical science.
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4. Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension,
usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of
something unusual or important.