static

[ stat-ik ]
/ ˈstæt ɪk /

adjective Also stat·i·cal.

noun

Electricity.
  1. static or atmospheric electricity.
  2. interference due to such electricity.
Informal. difficulty; trouble: Will your dad give you any static on using the car?

Origin of static

1560–70; < New Latin staticus < Greek statikós, equivalent to sta- (stem of histánai to make stand) + -tikos -tic

historical usage of static

The adjective static comes into English via New Latin staticus, which dates from the late 16th century and means “relating to weighing.”
Staticus is a straightforward borrowing of Greek statikós with the same meaning. Statica, the feminine singular of staticus, is short for ars statica “the art, science, or technique of weighing,” also dating from the late 16th century, and is a translation of Greek téchnē statikē (which, in the 16th century, wasn't just a matter of putting something on a postage meter or bathroom scale). Statikós is a derivative of the adjective statós “(of a horse or water) standing still.” Statics, the branch of mechanics that deals with bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium, is a derivative of Latin statica and Greek statikē.
The noun sense of static, used in telecommunications and electromagnetics, is a relatively new development, from the late 19th century. It refers to atmospheric electricity and the interference due to it. Out of this developed a figurative sense that we use informally today to complain about someone interfering with what we want to do (that is, giving us trouble or difficulty): “Stop giving me static about this!”

OTHER WORDS FROM static

Example sentences from the Web for static

British Dictionary definitions for static

static
/ (ˈstætɪk) /

adjective Also: statical

noun

random hissing or crackling or a speckled picture caused by the interference of electrical disturbances in the reception of radio or television transmissions
electric sparks or crackling produced by friction
See also statics

Derived forms of static

statically, adverb

Word Origin for static

C16: from New Latin staticus, from Greek statikos causing to stand, from histanai to stand, put on the scales

Scientific definitions for static

static
[ stătĭk ]

Adjective

Having no motion; being at rest. Compare dynamic.
Relating to or producing static electricity.

Noun

Distortion or interruption of a broadcast signal, such as crackling or noise in a receiver or specks on a television screen, often produced when background electromagnetic radiation in the atmosphere disturbs signal reception or when there are loose connections in the transmission or reception circuits.