direct current

4 definitions found

direct current - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Direct current \Direct current\ (Elec.)
     (a) A current flowing in one direction only; -- distinguished
         from alternating current. When steady and not pulsating
         a direct current is often called a continuous current.
     (b)
  
     A direct induced current, or momentary current of the same
        direction as the inducing current, produced by stopping or
        removing the latter; also, a similar current produced by
        removal of a magnet.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  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]

direct current - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  direct current
      n 1: an electric current that flows in one direction steadily
           [syn: direct current, DC, direct electric current]
           [ant: AC, alternating current, alternating electric current
           ]

direct current - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  37 Moby Thesaurus words for "direct current":
     AC, DC, absorption current, active current, alternating current,
     conduction current, convection current, cycle, delta current,
     dielectric displacement 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