A current is a steady and continuous flowing movement of some of the water in a river, lake, or sea.
Under normal conditions, the ocean currents of the tropical Pacific travel from eastto west. [+ of]
The couple were swept away by the strong current.
Synonyms: flow, course, undertow, jet More Synonyms of current
2. countable noun
A current is a steady flowing movement of air.
I felt a current of cool air blowing in my face. [+ of]
Synonyms: draught, flow, breeze, puff More Synonyms of current
3. countable noun
An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit.
A powerful electric current is passed through a piece of graphite.
4. countable noun
A particular current is a particular feeling, idea, or quality that exists within a group of people.
Each party represents a distinct current of thought. [+ of]
...the current of excitement that passed invisibly through the village when somethingnew was happening.
5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Current means happening, being used, or being done at the present time.
The current situation is very different to that in 1990.
He plans to repeal a number of current policies.
When asked for your views about your current job, on no account must you be negative.
currentlyadverb [ADVERB before verb]
Twelve potential vaccines are currently being tested on human volunteers.
He currently has no strong rivals for power.
6. adjective
Ideas and customs that are current are generally accepted and used by most people.
Current thinking suggests that toxins play only a small part in the build up of cellulite.
This custom was still current in the late 1960s.
7. See also alternating current, direct current
More Synonyms of current
current in British English
(ˈkʌrənt)
adjective
1.
of the immediate present; in progress
current events
2.
most recent; up-to-date
3.
commonly known, practised, or accepted; widespread
a current rumour
4.
circulating and valid at present
current coins
noun
5.
(esp of water or air) a steady usually natural flow
6.
a mass of air, body of water, etc, that has a steady flow in a particular direction
7.
the rate of flow of such a mass
8. Also called: electric current physics
a.
a flow of electric charge through a conductor
b.
the rate of flow of this charge. It is measured in amperes
Symbol: I
9.
a general trend or drift
currents of opinion
Derived forms
currently (ˈcurrently)
adverb
currentness (ˈcurrentness)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French corant, literally: running, from corre to run, from Latin currere
current in American English
(ˈkɜrənt)
adjective
1. Obsolete
running or flowing
2.
a.
now going on; now in progress
the current month, his current job
b.
at the present time; contemporary
current fashions
c.
of most recent date
the current edition
3.
passing from person to person; circulating
current money, current rumors
4.
commonly used, known, or accepted; prevalent
a current term
5. Accounting
a.
designating any asset that would normally be converted into cash within one year
b.
designating any liability that must be paid within one year
noun
6.
a flow of water or air, esp. when strong or swift, in a definite direction; specif., such a flow within a larger body of water or mass of air
7.
a general tendency or drift; course
8. Electricity
the flow or rate of flow of electrons, ions, or holes in a conductor or medium between two points having a difference in potential, measured in amperes and equal to the ratio of the voltage to the resistance: symbol, I
SIMILAR WORDS: preˈvailing, ˈtendency
Derived forms
currently (ˈcurrently)
adverb
Word origin
altered (infl. by L) < ME curraunt < OFr curant, prp. of courre < L currere, to run < IE base *kers-, to run, wagon > Gaul carros
current in Electrical Engineering
(kɜrənt)
Word forms: (regular plural) currents
noun
(Electrical engineering: Circuits, Electrical power, Computing and control)
Current is the flow of electrons in a circuit.
The symbol I is used for current, because current used to be referred to as electrical intensity.
When too much current passes through a fuse or breaker it blows, interrupting the flow of electricity.
The measure of the number of electrons flowing past a given point in an electricalconductor in a given amount of time is the electrical current.
Current is the flow of electrons in a circuit.
alternating current, current rating, current source, current transformer, electric current, leakage current, short circuit current
current in Accounting
(kɜrənt)
adjective
(Accounting: Basic)
Current means happening, being used, or being done at the present time, or expected to take place within a year or less.
SIMILAR WORDS:
short-term
Current expenditure exceeds the original estimate.
He recommends that investors hold up for the time being in buying the stock, as current profit margins probably aren't sustainable.
Current means happening, being used, or being done at the present time, or expected to takeplace within a year or less.
current assets, current cost, current expenses, current liabilities, current ratio
Examples of 'current' in a sentence
current
Fraudsters can open current accounts to receive the illicit cash transfers.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
These crystals give off a small electric current.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
How do you see his current situation?
The Sun (2016)
Bank current accounts have been the way to earn high interest in recent years.
The Sun (2016)
If the current year plays out like the last, that will have to be cut.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Without that, the current winter crisis will become a permanent crisis.
The Sun (2017)
He screamed, but his friends did not hear him and he could not swim across a strong current to reach them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are fears as many as 1,000 ex-servicemen could face charges in the current witch hunt.
The Sun (2017)
A glider is ready to take off from Argentina in a flight designed to surf mountain air currents to the edge of space.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It won’t slow down the ongoing robotics revolution in manufacturing, because current processes still have lots of room for automation to improve safety, speed and quality.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
One in ten people have current accounts with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There are current season crops still going.
The Sun (2011)
The battery makes an electric current low through the copper wire.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The present value method reduces all future cash flows to current values.
Harrison, John Finance for the Non-Financial Manager (1989)
You need to compare the assessed charge with your current bill to see which is cheaper.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The purpose was to map ocean currents.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Training activities aim at improving the skills needed to perform current job duties effectively.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Viewers and the studio audience can pose questions on current affairs and air their views.
The Sun (2012)
The currents proved too strong and he was forced to turn back.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The situation reminds me of when the current interest in small groups was just beginning.
Christianity Today (2000)
We urge him now to show the same moderation in addressing the current situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The current liquidity crisis has seen perfectly viable small companies dragged down.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Are you wondering whether to switch your current account to another bank?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Few of us save all our current cash flow or borrow fully against our future cash flow.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
They take interest on our current accounts and charge us for services.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They felt a current of air like a hurricane wind.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Rescue divers battled strong currents as they tried to get into the ship.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Our obedient dog lay motionless as we stood and watched the trio work the currents of the river.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It uses variations in electric current along a long wire to transmit coded messages from one location to another.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The vocals add a contemporary edge and are essential to keeping the show current yet still retaining an urbane feel.
The Sun (2012)
Because the current threats to ocean life are environmental and diffuse, they are easier to deny.
Oxenhorn, Harvey Tuning the Rig: A Journey to the Arctic (1990)
Further, it has already secured 30 per cent of its expected housing sales for the current financial year.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
current
British English: current /ˈkʌrənt/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is current is happening, being done, or being used at the present time.
The current situation is very different.
American English: current
Arabic: حَالِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: atual
Chinese: 当前的
Croatian: trenutni
Czech: aktuální
Danish: nuværende
Dutch: actueel
European Spanish: actual
Finnish: tämänhetkinen
French: actuel
German: aktuell
Greek: τρέχων
Italian: attuale
Japanese: 現在の
Korean: 현재의
Norwegian: gjeldende
Polish: aktualny obecny
European Portuguese: atual
Romanian: actual
Russian: текущий
Latin American Spanish: actual
Swedish: aktuell
Thai: ปัจจุบัน, เป็นปัจจุบัน, ที่ใช้กันในปัจจุบัน
Turkish: güncel
Ukrainian: поточний
Vietnamese: hiện hành
British English: current /ˈkʌrənt/ NOUN
flow A current is a steady, continuous, flowing movement of water or air.
He was carried away by the strong current of the river.
American English: current flow
Arabic: تِيَّار
Brazilian Portuguese: corrente fluxo de água
Chinese: 气流或水流
Croatian: tijek
Czech: proud
Danish: strøm
Dutch: stroom stroming
European Spanish: corriente flujo
Finnish: virtaus
French: courant
German: Strömung
Greek: ρεύμα
Italian: corrente
Japanese: 流れ flow
Korean: 흐름
Norwegian: strøm
Polish: nurt rzeka
European Portuguese: corrente fluxo de água
Romanian: curent
Russian: поток
Latin American Spanish: corriente caudal
Swedish: ström
Thai: กระแสน้ำ
Turkish: akış
Ukrainian: потік
Vietnamese: luồng
British English: current /ˈkʌrənt/ NOUN
electric An electric current is electricity flowing through a wire or circuit.
...a powerful electric current.
American English: current electricity
Arabic: تِيَّار
Brazilian Portuguese: corrente eletricidade
Chinese: 电流
Croatian: struja
Czech: proud elektřina
Danish: strøm
Dutch: stroom elektriciteit
European Spanish: corriente eléctrica
Finnish: sähkövirta
French: courant
German: Strom
Greek: ηλεκτρικό ρεύμα
Italian: corrente
Japanese: 電流 electricity
Korean: 전류
Norwegian: strøm
Polish: prąd elektryczność
European Portuguese: corrente electricidade
Romanian: curent
Russian: электрический ток
Latin American Spanish: corriente flujo
Swedish: ström
Thai: กระแสไฟ
Turkish: akım
Ukrainian: струм
Vietnamese: dòng
All related terms of 'current'
air current
a mass of air moving from one area to another
rip current
a stretch of turbulent water in the sea, caused by the meeting of currents or abrupt changes in depth
up-current
an upward-moving current
cross-current
A cross-current is a current in a river or sea that flows across another current.
current cost
The current cost of assets is their current value, or what it would cost to replace them at this time.
current crop
You can refer to a group of people or things that have appeared together as a crop of people or things.
current ratio
A current ratio is a measure of liquidity that is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities .
current trend
A trend is a change or development towards something new or different.
current yield
the yield of a bond or similar asset , expressed as a ratio of the annual interest payment to the clean price
dark current
the residual current produced by a photoelectric device when not illuminated
eddy current
an electric current induced in a massive conductor , such as the core of an electromagnet , transformer , etc, by an alternating magnetic field
fault current
A fault current is a current that results from a fault.
grid current
the flow of electrons between a grid and the cathode of an electron tube
Japan Current
a warm ocean current flowing northeastwards off the E coast of Japan towards the North Pacific
Peru Current
→ Humboldt current
account current
a record of business transactions that shows the total amount of money owed as of the date of the summarizing statement
Agulhas current
a fast , warm ocean current flowing southwest along the SE coast of Africa
current account
A current account is a personal bank account which you can take money out of at any time using your cheque book or cash card .
current affairs
If you refer to current affairs , you are referring to political events and problems in society which are discussed in newspapers , and on television and radio .
current assets
Current assets are assets which a company does not use on a continuous basis , such as stocks and debts , but which can be converted into cash within one year.
current crisis
A crisis is a situation in which something or someone is affected by one or more very serious problems.
current density
the ratio of the electric current flowing at a particular point in a conductor to the cross-sectional area of the conductor taken perpendicular to the current flow at that point. It is measured in amperes per square metre
current events
→ current affairs
current limiter
a device, as a resistor or fuse , that limits the flow of current to a prescribed amount, independent of the voltage applied
current rating
Current rating is the maximum current that a fuse will carry for an indefinite period without too much deterioration of the fuse element.
current source
A current source is a source that maintains the current at a particular value almost independent of the load conditions.
direct current
A direct current is an electric current that always flows in the same direction. The abbreviation → DC is also used.
leakage current
A leakage current is an electric current in an unwanted conductive path under normal operating conditions.
Benguela Current
a strong ocean current in the South Atlantic , flowing northward along the SW coast of Africa
Cromwell Current
an equatorial Pacific current , flowing eastward from the Hawaiian Islands to the Gal ápagos Islands
current efficiency
the ratio of the actual mass of a substance liberated from an electrolyte by the passage of current to the theoretical mass liberated according to Faraday's law
current expenses
noncapital and usually recurrent expenditures necessary for the operation of a business
current favourite
Your favourite thing or person of a particular type is the one you like most.
current generation
A generation is all the people in a group or country who are of a similar age, especially when they are considered as having the same experiences or attitudes .
current situation
You use situation to refer generally to what is happening in a particular place at a particular time, or to refer to what is happening to you.
electric current
An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit .
Foucault current
an electric current induced in a massive conductor , such as the core of an electromagnet , transformer , etc, by an alternating magnetic field
Humboldt Current
a cold ocean current of the S Pacific , flowing north along the coasts of Chile and Peru
Labrador Current
a cold ocean current flowing southwards off the coast of Labrador and meeting the warm Gulf Stream , causing dense fogs off the coast of Newfoundland
residual current
an electric current that continues to flow in a device, etc when there is no voltage supply , due to electrons emitted by heat , etc
thermionic current
an electric current produced between two electrodes as a result of electrons emitted by thermionic emission
turbidity current
a swirling mass of water and suspended material stirred up by a tsunami , a storm , a river in flood , etc
alternating current
An alternating current is an electric current that continually changes direction as it flows . The abbreviation → AC is also used.
current circumstances
The circumstances of a particular situation are the conditions which affect what happens .
current expenditure
expenditure taking place within the financial year in question
current liabilities
business liabilities maturing within a year
current transformer
A current transformer is a transformer that is designed to give an accurate current ratio for the purpose of measurement and control.
full load current
A full load current is the largest current that a motor or other device is designed to carry under particular conditions.
intermittent current
a direct current interrupted at regular or irregular intervals