alternating current
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Alternating current \Al"ter*nat`ing cur"rent\ (Elec.)
A current which periodically changes or reverses its
direction of flow, especially an electric current that
reverses direction sinusoidally, as is used for most domestic
and industrial power requirements. Contrasted with {direct
curent}.
Syn: AC
[Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
Note: The common household current is alternating.
Alternating current is easier than direct current to
transform to high voltage and back, making
long-distance transmission more efficient.
[PJC]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
electric current \electric current\, electrical current
\electrical current\,
the movement of electrically charged particles, atoms, or
ions, through solids, liquids, gases, or free space; the term
is usually used of relatively smooth movements of electric
charge through conductors, whether constant or variable.
Sudden movements of charge are usually referred to by other
terms, such as {spark} or {lightning} or {discharge}. In
metallic conductors the electric current is usually due to
movement of electrons through the metal. The current is
measured as the rate of movement of charge per unit time, and
is counted in units of amperes. As a formal definition, the
direction of movement of electric current is considered as
the same as the direction of movement of positive charge, or
in a direction opposite to the movement of negative charge.
Electric current may move constantly in a single direction,
called {direct current} (abbreviated {DC}), or may move
alternately in one direction and then the opposite direction,
called {alternating current} (abbreviated {AC}).
[PJC]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
37 Moby Thesaurus words for "alternating current":
AC, DC, absorption current, active current, conduction current,
convection current, cycle, delta current,
dielectric displacement current, direct current,
displacement current, eddy current, electric current,
electric stream, emission current, exciting current,
free alternating current, galvanic current, high-frequency current,
idle current, induced current, induction current,
ionization current, juice, low-frequency current,
magnetizing current, multiphase current, pulsating direct current,
reactive current, rotary current, single-phase alternating current,
stray current, thermionic current, thermoelectric current,
three-phase alternating current, voltaic current, watt current
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