high voltagen.adj.
/ˌhʌɪ ˈvəʊltɪdʒ/, /ˌhʌɪ ˈvɒltɪdʒ/, U.S. /ˌhaɪ ˈvoʊltɪdʒ/ A. n.
Voltage that is higher than some usual or standard voltage (stated or implied), esp. when capable of causing injury or damage; an instance of this. Also in figurative contexts and figurative.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > voltage > [noun] > higher than usual voltage
high voltage1888
supervoltage1898
overload1904
breakdown voltage1915
overvoltage1921
1888 Proc. National Electric Light Assoc. 8 242 Alternate current machines of high voltage, assisted by proper converters.
1904 Spectator 30 Apr. 670/1 Pope..was seldom the subject of currents of high voltage like..the emotional Hazlitt.
1921 ‘C. Blayre’ Purple Sapphire 58 His Observatory was fitted with an arc-light apparatus of exceptionally high voltage.
1961 Times 24 Mar. 18/4 Walton's first symphony is a work of extraordinarily high voltage.
1990 New Age Oct. 45/2 Ecstasy amounts to living within reach of the high voltage of the golden gifts.
2002 F. Close et al. Particle Odyssey vi. 98 If a high voltage is applied to the plates, luminous discharges—sparks—occur in the tubes.
B. adj. (chiefly attributive) Frequently hyphenated.
1. Of, relating to, or characterized by such a voltage; designed to produce, carry, or operate at such a voltage.
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1889 Telegr. Jrnl. & Electr. Rev. 1 Nov. 490/1 He, the great scientist, could not kill a pig with a high voltage current.
1936 N. Feather Introd. Nucl. Physics i. 25 The high voltage generator of Van de Graaff..is based on principles of electrostatics.
1970 Single Sideband for Radio Amateur (Amer. Radio Relay League) (ed. 5) v. 149/1 The d.c. plate voltage is fed into the amplifier via a Millen high-voltage terminal.
2012 New Yorker 30 Jan. 41/2 He pressed his advisers to include an inspiring ‘moon shot’ initiative, such as building a national ‘smart grid’—a high-voltage transmission system sometimes known as the ‘electricity superhighway,’ which would make America's power supply much more efficient and reliable.
2. Powerful or intense, as if caused or operated by a high-voltage electric current; very exciting; highly charged.
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the mind > emotion > excitement > exciting > [adjective]
stirring1421
excitative1490
rousing1576
animating1595
excitant1608
exciteful?1615
spirit-stirringa1616
spiritous1624
excitatinga1643
exagitating1646
fermentive1656
awakening1694
electrifying1746
upstirring1751
electrical1760
thrilling1768
excitive1774
proceleusmatic1775
electric1789
inspiriting1796
fermentitious1807
exciting1811
red-hot1835
hair-raising1838
suscitating1840
arousing1841
sizzling1845
zesty1853
excitory1861
throbbing1864
buzzing1882
ding-dong1887
thrillful1887
stir-up1890
large1895
thrilly1896
high voltage1909
voltaic1920
sizzly1936
Boy's Own1967
hot shit1967
crunk1995
1909 Scribner's Mag. Dec. 718/2 It was another example of the inefficiency of humanity that cursed the waking hours of his high-voltage mind.
1966 N. Freeling King of Rainy Country 128 Her high-voltage emotions injected into the situation would doubtless tangle things still further.
2003 Independent 4 Mar. 9/3 While Cavalli's signature high-voltage glamour was in tune with the hard attitude we have seen from Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1888