1. In Chemistry:
* Ionic describes a type of chemical bond formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. This happens when one atom (or group of atoms) loses electrons to become positively charged (a cation), while another atom (or group of atoms) gains those electrons to become negatively charged (an anion).
* Ionic compound: A compound formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. Examples include table salt (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl2).
2. In Architecture and Design:
* Ionic order: One of the three main orders of classical architecture (along with Doric and Corinthian). It's characterized by a fluted column with a scrolled capital.
3. In Computing:
* Ionic framework: A popular open-source framework for building mobile applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
To understand the meaning of "ionic" better, you need to consider the context in which you encounter it.