current
KUR-uhnt
/ˈkɜːrənt/
A flow of electricity, specifically the rate at which electric charge flows past a point in a circuit.
Current refers to the actual movement of charge carriers (usually electrons). It is measured in amperes (amps).
The story behind the word. From the Latin currere, meaning 'to run.' Just as a river has a current of running water, an electrical circuit has a current of running electrons.
Word relationships
- flow: Flow is a general term for the movement of any fluid or continuous mass, while current is the specific rate of flow of electrical charge.
Commonly confused with
- voltage: Voltage is the pressure that pushes the charge, whereas current is the actual flow rate of the charge itself.
Word family
- currently (adverb): At the present time (non-technical usage).
Collocations
- electric current
- alternating current
- direct current
- current flow
Idioms & expressions
- swim against the current
- go with the current
Example sentences
- "It is not the voltage alone that causes injury during an electrical shock, but the amount of current flowing through the body." Describing the dangers of electrical shock.
- "An electric current, when passing through a wire, produces a magnetic field around it." A historical scientific paper on electromagnetism. (Experiments on the Effect of a Current of Electricity on the Magnetic Needle by Hans Christian Ørsted)
Memory hook
Think of a 'current' of water running down a river; an electrical current is just electrons running down a wire. Current is the running flow of charge.
When not to use
Avoid using 'current' to mean the energy or power itself; current is specifically the rate of flow of charge, not the total work done.
Fun facts
- Even though electrical signals travel near the speed of light, the actual individual electrons in a direct current wire move at a crawl—about 1 millimeter per second, known as drift velocity.
Related words
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