hydroelectricadj.
/ˌhʌɪdrəʊᵻˈlɛktrɪk/, U.S. /ˌhaɪdroʊəˈlɛktrɪk/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical power, electricity > [adjective]
hydroelectric1827
run-of-river1916
1827 J. Cumming Man. Electro Dynamics iv. 115 Retaining the name Hydro-electric, for current produced by the intervention of fluids.
1832 Nat. Philos. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) II. Electro-magnetism xiii. §305. 93 The electrical current thus excited has been termed Thermo-electric, in order to distinguish it from the common galvanic current, which, as it requires the intervention of a fluid element as one of its essential components, was denominated a Hydro-electric current.
1851 Official Descriptive & Illustr. Catal. Great Exhib. IV. 1027 The powers of nature, as steam, the moving power, lightning, the hydro-electric fluid, and light.
1851 Official Descriptive & Illustr. Catal. Great Exhib. IV. 1102 Engraving on a tin plate, produced by the action of the hydro-electric current.
1855 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Hydro-Electricus, applied to the phenomena which produce the voltaic pile, because the presence of water is the condition of their full development: hydro-electric.
2. Effecting the development of electricity by the friction of water or steam: as in Armstrong's hydroelectric machine.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical power, electricity > [adjective] > using water power > involving friction
hydroelectric1844
1844 Rep. 13th Meeting Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1843 39 (heading) On the electricity of high-pressure steam, and a description of a hydro-electric machine.
1863–72 H. Watts Dict. Chem. II. 408 The electric excitement resulting from the friction of water is applied to the construction of an electrical machine of great power, called the Hydro-electric machine.
1881 J. W. Judd Volcanoes ii. 29 Every volcano in violent eruption is a very efficient hydro~electric machine.
3. Designating or relating to the generation of electricity using flowing water (typically water from a reservoir held behind a dam or barrage) to drive a turbine which powers a generator.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical power, electricity > [adjective] > using water power
hydroelectric1884
hydroelectrical1925
hydel1934
1884 Engineering 11 Jan. 38/3 A Hydro-Electric Syphon... A most ingenious scheme for draining the valley of the city of Mexico by means of electrical power generated by the fall of water raised by electrically driven pumps.
1899 Minutes Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers 136 433 (heading) Hydro-electric installation at Mont-Dore.
1904 Electr. Mag. I. 592/1 On the river Ain..near Lake Geneva, a hydro-electric plant has recently been completed.
1905 Daily Chron. 18 Sept. 4/5 Abundant hydro-electric power.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 22 Oct. 10/1 The construction of a second large hydro-electric plant.
1917 E. A. Lof & D. B. Rushmore (title) Hydro-electric power stations.
1927 W. P. Creager & J. D. Justin Hydro-electr. Handbk. xxxv. 874 Hydro-electric plants are much more reliable than steam plants.
1951 T. H. Carr Electric Power Stations (ed. 3) II. xxiv. 579 Hydro-electric stations are usually located in wild, mountainous districts.
1955 Bull. Atomic Scientists Oct. 281/2 Hydroelectric power is never likely to contribute more than a small fraction of the total energy consumption of the world, since the total potential capacity is relatively limited.
1963 W. E. Ballard Metal Spraying (ed. 4) xiv. 479 In hydro-electric schemes, metal spraying has often been used for the protection of the large pipes bringing the water down from a high altitude to the turbines.
1972 Daily Tel. 11 Apr. 13/6 Brazil wants to build a huge hydro-electric dam on the upper reaches of the River Parana.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1827