First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1current
adjective cur·rent \ˈkər-ənt, ˈkə-rənt\
: happening or existing now : belonging to or existing in the present time
: aware of what is happening in a particular area of activity
Full Definition of CURRENT
1
2
: used as a medium of exchange
3
: generally accepted, used, practiced, or prevalent at the moment <current fashions>
— cur·rent·ly adverb
— cur·rent·ness noun
See current defined for English-language learners
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Origin of CURRENT
Middle English curraunt, from Anglo-French corant, present participle of cure, courre to run, from Latin currere — more at car
Related to CURRENT
- Synonyms
- conventional, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual
- Antonyms
- nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual
Rhymes with CURRENT
2current
noun
: a continuous movement of water or air in the same direction
: a flow of electricity
: an idea, feeling, opinion, etc., that is shared by many or most of the people in a group
Full Definition of CURRENT
1
a : the part of a fluid body (as air or water) moving continuously in a certain direction b : the swiftest part of a stream c : a tidal or nontidal movement of lake or ocean water d : flow marked by force or strength
2
a : a tendency or course of events that is usually the result of an interplay of forces <currents of public opinion> b : a prevailing mood : strain
3
: a flow of electric charge; also : the rate of such flow
See current defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CURRENT
14th century
Synonym Discussion of CURRENT
tendency, trend, drift, tenor, current mean movement in a particular direction. tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force <a general tendency toward inflation>. trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course <the long-term trend of the stock market is upward>. drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces <the drift of the population away from large cities> or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse <got the drift of her argument>. tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course <the tenor of the times>. current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course <an encounter that changed the current of my life>.
Other Electrical Engineering Terms
CURRENT Defined for Kids
1current
adjective cur·rent \ˈkər-ənt\
Definition of CURRENT for Kids
1
: now passing <the current month>
2
: occurring in or belonging to the present time <current events>
3
: generally and widely accepted, used, or practiced <current customs>
Word Root of CURRENT
The Latin word currere, meaning “to run,” and its form cursus give us the roots curr and curs. Words from the Latin currere have something to do with running. A current is the direction in which a river runs or flows. When two people concur, their ideas or opinions run together in agreement. A course is the path over which something moves or runs.
2current
noun
Definition of CURRENT for Kids
1
: a body of fluid (as air or water) moving in a specified direction
2
: the swiftest part of a stream
3
: the general course : trend
4
: a flow of electricity
Medical Dictionary
current
noun cur·rent \ˈkər-ənt, ˈkə-rənt\
Medical Definition of CURRENT
1
: the part of a fluid body (as air or water) moving continuously in a certain direction
2
: a flow of electric charge; also : the rate of such flow
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