current
[ kur-uhnt, kuhr- ]
/ ˈkɜr ənt, ˈkʌr- /
adjective
noun
Origin of current
1250–1300; < Latin
current- (stem of
currēns) running (present participle of
currere); replacing Middle English
curraunt < Anglo-French < Latin as above; see
-ent
SYNONYMS FOR current
synonym study for current
2.
Current,
present,
prevailing,
prevalent refer to something generally or commonly in use. That which is
current is in general circulation or a matter of common knowledge or acceptance:
current usage in English.
Present refers to that which is in use now; it always has the sense of time:
present customs. That which is
prevailing is that which has superseded others:
prevailing fashion. That which is
prevalent exists or is spread widely:
a prevalent idea.
10. See
stream.
OTHER WORDS FROM current
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH current
currant currentWords nearby current
Example sentences from the Web for current
British Dictionary definitions for current
current
/ (ˈkʌrənt) /
adjective
noun
Derived forms of current
currently, adverb currentness, nounWord Origin for current
C13: from Old French
corant, literally: running, from
corre to run, from Latin
currere
Medical definitions for current
current
[ kûr′ənt ]
n.
A stream or flow of a liquid or gas.
A flow of electric charge.
The amount of electric charge flowing past a specified circuit point per unit time.
Scientific definitions for current
current
[ kûr′ənt ]
A flowing movement in a liquid, gas, plasma, or other form of matter, especially one that follows a recognizable course.
A flow of positive electric charge. The strength of current flow in any medium is related to voltage differences in that medium, as well as the electrical properties of the medium, and is measured in amperes. Since electrons are stipulated to have a negative charge, current in an electrical circuit actually flows in the opposite direction of the movement of electrons. See also electromagnetism Ohm's law. See Note at electric charge.
A Closer Look
Electric current is the phenomenon most often experienced in the form of electricity. Any time an object with a net electric charge is in motion, such as an electron in a wire or a positively charged ion jetting into the atmosphere from a solar flare, there is an electric current; the total current moving through some cross-sectional area in a given direction is simply the amount of positive charge moving through that cross-section. Current is sometimes confused with electric potential or voltage, but a voltage difference between two points (such as the two terminals of a battery) means only that current can potentially flow between them; how much does in fact flow depends on the resistance of the material between the two points. Electrical signals transmitted through a wire generally propagate at nearly the speed of light, but the current in the wire actually moves very slowly: pushing electrons into one end of the wire is rather like pushing a marble into one end of a tube filled with marbles-a marble (or electron) gets pushed out the other end almost instantly, even though the marbles (or electrons) inside move only incrementally.