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Glite Dictionary
electric automobile

electric automobile

4.1
A car that runs on power from batteries instead of gasoline
  • noun
  • /ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˌɔːtəməˈbiːl/
translation icon : automóvil eléctrico
  • Many people are transitioning to electric automobiles to reduce their carbon footprint.

Examples

  • Sales of electric automobiles and delivery vans for urban use will grow rapidly.

    Academic text (1990)

  • The new model of electric automobile can travel over 300 miles on a single charge.

  • Robert Anderson was the inventor of the electric automobile.

    Blog text (24)

  • In major cities, electric automobiles are becoming a common sight on the roads.

Synonyms

electric car
vselectric automobile
53 3.1

A car that runs on electricity

has the same meaning but stresses electricity stored in onboard batteries as main power

Antonyms

diesel
21 3.0

A vehicle powered by an engine that uses oil fuel, like trucks and buses

How Electric

electric automobile
4.1
hybrid car
7 3.2
gasoline engine
  • Specialized
4 3.2

Surface Forms

electric automobile singular
electric automobiles plural

Morphology

electric + automobile

The meaning 'a car powered by electricity' is directly and compositionally derived from 'electric' (relating to electrical power) modifying 'automobile' (a car). This adjective+noun compound follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g., 'electric car') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The compound electric automobile gives a clear picture: electric means power from a battery and automobile means car, so imagine a car you plug into the wall instead of filling it with gas. That's why it means 'a car that uses electricity stored in batteries as its main source of power'.