Static
/ˈstætɪk/
Definitions
4 meaningsNot moving or changing; stationary.
/ˈstætɪk/
Lacking in movement, action, or change.
The car remained static, unable to overcome the force of the hill.
💡 Simply: Imagine a toy soldier standing still. That's static! It doesn't move or change. It's like when you're watching a movie and there's a still picture – that's static.
👶 For kids: Not moving or changing. Like when you freeze in a game!
More Examples
The company's growth remained static for several years.
How It's Used
"The static friction between the tires and the road prevents the car from sliding."
"The museum's exhibits were static, showcasing ancient artifacts."
Showing little or no change; lacking progress or development.
/ˈstætɪk/
Characterized by a lack of activity or change; stagnant.
The economy remained static despite government efforts to stimulate growth.
💡 Simply: Imagine a business that's not growing or changing. It's stuck in the same place – that's static! Things are not moving forward or getting better. Just like when you're not learning new things.
👶 For kids: When things stay the same and don't change or get better.
More Examples
The static nature of the small town made it seem isolated.
How It's Used
"The static market conditions made it difficult to generate new sales."
"Her static personality made her difficult to get to know."
Crackling or hissing noise on a radio or television caused by electrical interference.
/ˈstætɪk/
Interference in radio or television signals.
There was a lot of static on the line during the phone call.
💡 Simply: Remember that fuzzy noise on the radio or TV? That's static! It's like a bunch of messy sounds that make it hard to hear or see something clearly.
👶 For kids: The fuzzy noise on the radio or TV that makes it hard to hear or see anything.
More Examples
The old radio was often filled with static, making it difficult to listen to music.
How It's Used
"The radio reception was poor because of static."
"I couldn't hear the concert over all the static on the radio."
Electric charge at rest.
/ˈstætɪk/
An electrical charge that builds up on an object and doesn't flow continuously.
Rubbing the balloon on his hair created static electricity.
💡 Simply: Remember when you rub a balloon on your hair and it sticks? That's static electricity. It's when electricity builds up and stays in one place until it discharges.
👶 For kids: When electricity builds up on something, like your clothes in the dryer.
More Examples
The experiment investigated the effects of static on different materials.
How It's Used
"The scientist studied static electricity."
"The touch of the doorknob gave me a jolt of static electricity."
Synonyms
Fixed
Stable
Inactive
Inert
Passive
Stagnant
Hiss
Interference
Noise
Idioms & expressions
static cling
The attraction of lightweight objects to surfaces, due to static electricity.
"The clothes were covered in static cling after coming out of the dryer."
From Greek *statikos* meaning 'causing to stand, stationary', related to *istanai* meaning 'to cause to stand'. It entered English in the late 17th century.
Used in scientific and technical contexts to describe unchanging or stationary phenomena since the 17th century. The term has roots in physics and mechanics.
Memory tip
Think of a statue – it's static and doesn't move.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: statikos