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electrical phenomenon

electrical phenomenon

1 5.3
An event where sudden energy in the air makes light, sound, or sparks, like lightning
  • noun
  • /ɪˈlɛktrɪkəl fəˈnɛmənən/
translation icon : fenómeno eléctrico
  • Franklin confirmed, in 1752, that lightning is an electrical phenomenon.

Examples

  • But although the Leiden jar became a global electrical phenomenon, no-one had the slightest idea how it worked.

  • You're telling us that you're tracking some sort of an electrical phenomenon in the area close to the--

  • The real St. Elmo's Fire is an electrical phenomenon that takes place around storms that creates luminous plasma.

    Blog text (19)
  • Franklin confirmed, in 1752, that lightning is an electrical phenomenon.

  • The real St. Elmo's Fire is an electrical phenomenon that occurs around storms and creates luminous plasma.

  • A witness recalled seeing a bluish electrical phenomenon that danced over the aft starboard side of the Hindenburg.

Synonyms

electrical disturbance
vselectrical phenomenon
  • Specialized
1 5.5

Unwanted electric signals that make devices not work properly

is any physical event involving electricity or its effects

How Intense

lightning
512 1.0
electric arc
  • Specialized
1 5.4
electrical phenomenon
1 5.3
spark
130 2.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

electrical + phenomenon

The meaning is directly compositional: 'electrical' (pertaining to electricity) modifies 'phenomenon' (an observable event), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to an event involving electricity. This adjective+noun combination follows standard grammatical composition and is cross-linguistically common, making it transparent.

Etymology

Electrical phenomenon may come from an old word for 'amber', because people long ago saw sparks when they rubbed objects like amber. The word electrical came to mean 'about sparks and electricity', and phenomenon means 'something that appears'. So electrical phenomenon means a visible 'event' that involves electricity.