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Revised 2023 More entries for "current"

currentnoun

Quotations

Contents

Earlier version

    1. 1.a.
      a1425–
      A body of water or air moving in a definite direction through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement.
      air-current, Alaska Current, counter-current, North Atlantic Current, ocean current, rip current, tide-current, wind-current, etc.: see the first element.
      1. a1425
        Men þat knowen þe worchinge of þe elementis..and worchiþ woundir bi craft in mevynge of currauntis.
        J. Wyclif, Select English Works (1869) vol. I. 186
      2. a1456 (1429)
        Seyling forþe..Passing þe parayllous currant of Arragoun.
        J. Lydgate, Minor Poems (1934) ii. 697
      3. 1578
        We mette with a greate currant from oute of the Southwest, which carryed vs (by our reckning) one point to the Northestwardes of our said course.
        G. Best, True Disc. Passage to Cathaya iii. 8
      4. a1594
        From the Cape to Virginia..are none but eddie currents.
        J. White in R. Hakluyt, Principal Navigations (1600) vol. III. 291
      5. 1651
        When both winds and Currents are uncertain, to ride at flote, till they can discern the most commodious Haven to Winter in.
        N. Bacon, Continuation of Historicall Discourse Government of England 188
      6. 1687
        By a contrary Current, the upper Air must move from those parts where the greatest heat is.
        Philosophical Transactions 1686–7 (Royal Society) vol. 16 167
      7. 1766
        Evaporation is vastly promoted by a current of fresh air passing over the exhaling surface.
        Philosophical Transactions 1765 (Royal Society) vol. 55 154
      8. 1863
        Great ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream.
        A. C. Ramsay, Physical Geology & Geography of Great Britain (1878) i. 10
      9. 1891
        [They] are all mapped out like currents on a mariner's chart.
        J. L. Kipling, Beast & Man in India viii. 199
      10. 1938
        Rhizostomes were often swept into Apalachicola Bay on currents from the Gulf of Mexico.
        Ecological Monography vol. 8 636
      11. c1942
        Baby's milk mixture may be placed in an airy slatted box up a tree—the leaves of a shady tree bringing a current of cool moving air.
        M. T. King, Mothercraft (new edition) ix. 123
      12. 2004
        Seagulls wheeled in currents.
        D. Mitchell, Cloud Atlas (U.K. edition) 468
      13. 2007
        The tides and currents are treacherous in places.
        Horizons (British Airways) May 60/1
      oceanography
    2. 1.b.
      1594–
      A steady, continuous stream or flow of something (material or immaterial).
      1. 1594
        Thus ebs and flowes the currant of her sorrow, And time doth wearie time with her complayning.
        W. Shakespeare, Lucrece sig. L2v
      2. 1605
        The sea..borrowes of all the smal Currents in the world, to encrease himselfe.
        London Prodigall sig. A2v
      3. 1665
        A small current of blood, which came directly from its snout, and past into its belly.
        R. Hooke, Micrographia 212
      4. 1796
        Could the life-blood congealing in these veins, Extend thy years..would I gash Each purple artery, and urge the current!
        S. Lee, Almeyda v. ii. 63
      5. 1869
        These deep cavities have often arrested the lava-currents.
        J. Phillips, Vesuvius vii. 195
      6. 1959
        In the stalked forms the cilia serve primarily to bring a current of food to the cell.
        T. T. Macan, Guide to Freshwater Invertebrate Animals 3
      7. 2005
        Bar-talk prompted a current of hilarious but deeply scatological expressions for visiting the lavatory and defecating.
        S. Elmes, Talking for Britain x. 255
    1. 2.a.
      1555–
      The flow of a river or other body of water, often with reference to its strength, direction, or speed.
      1. 1555
        Where the currant setteth alwayes to the eastwarde.
        R. Eden, Two Viages into Guinea in translation of Peter Martyr of Angleria, Decades of Newe Worlde f. 353
      2. 1578
        The Currant..was so fierce, that he could not get in with his Skiffe, because he had no helpe to row.
        T. Nicholas, translation of F. Lopez de Gómara, Pleasant Historie of Conquest of Weast India 8
      3. 1684
        There is no great Current in the Bay.
        Bishop G. Burnet, translation of T. More, Utopia 65
      4. 1726
        We were in eminent danger of being horsed by the current upon two rocks.
        G. Shelvocke, Voyage round World x. 298
      5. 1738
        [The River Trent] comes down from the Hills with a violent Current into the flat Country.
        Defoe's Tour Great Britain (ed. 2) vol. III. 7
      6. 1832
        I came to a river with high banks and deep rapid current.
        W. Irving, Alhambra vol. I. 25
      7. 1863
        The well-known phenomenon of the changing current in the Straits [of Euripus].
        M. Howitt, translation of F. Bremer, Greece & Greeks vol. II. xiv. 90
      8. 1925
        We were carried down-stream a little by the current.
        W. Cather, Professor's House ii. iii. 199
      9. 1970
        He..found him still further downstream, sculling grimly against the current in what looked like an improvised kayak.
        J. Blish, Spock must Die! xii. 92
      10. 2005
        The females use the river's strong current to carry away the previous year's accumulation of silt and the organic debris.
        B. Lopez in Granta Summer 77
    2. 2.b.
      1577–
      The course of a river or other flowing substance. Now rare.
      1. 1577
        The riuer Tygris in the discourse of his currant maketh an Ilande.
        E. Hellowes, translation of A. de Guevara, Chronicle 65
      2. 1594
        The Elue, a Riuer which keepes his current by Wittenberg.
        2nd Rep. Dr. Faustus ii. sig. B4
      3. 1599
        Two mile in length it stretched his winding current, and then meetes with a spatious riuer or backwater that feedes it.
        T. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe 5
      4. 1708
        The rise and currents of Rivers are not always the same now as before the flood.
        W. Whiston, New Theory of Earth (ed. 2) ii. 119
      5. 1799
        The Earn is a more rapid river than the Forth, has a longer current.
        J. Robertson, General View of Agriculture Perth 25
      6. 1869
        The opening of the new caravan road..along the old current of the Oxus to the Aral Sea.
        Pall Mall Budget 26 November 8/2
      7. 1943
        It is not apparent how the six stumps..could materially increase the obstruction of the river, divert its current in times of flood, or retain drift after the river's surface had reached flood stage.
        South Eastern Reporter 2nd Series vol. 22 705/1
    1. 3.a.
      1582–
      The prevailing opinion or established practice of a particular group or community. Cf. sense 3c. Now rare.
      1. 1582
        To restore sound to his first monarchie, & to force custom against the common currant.
        R. Mulcaster, 1st Part of Elementarie xvi. 104
      2. 1613
        Against this opinion is the common current of all Doctors and Fathers.
        J. Salkeld, Treatise of Angels 218
      3. 1650
        The current of the people or community I am of is to be followed.
        Exercitation conc. Usurped Powers 17
      4. 1738
        Affecting Singularity, against the general Current and Fashion of all about them.
        J. Swift, Complete Collection of Genteel Conversation p. xxxii
      5. 1863
        The current of modern American authorities is in complete accordance with this view.
        Saturday Review vol. 15 583/1
      6. 1900
        The German Government is pursuing a friendly policy towards England instead of blindly following the Anglophobe current of the people.
        Daily Telegraph 13 January 7/6
      7. a1986
        Perhaps it is a weird kind of people who pull against the current; unprovokable; even reasonable.
        B. Head, Tales Tenderness & Power (1990) 40
    2. 3.b.
      1583–
      The direction, course, or progress of something, esp. something viewed as unfolding or developing over time, such as events, history, a narrative, etc.
      1. 1583
        Borne according to the currant of the Starres: because a Starre conducted the wise men to the place where he remayned with his mother.
        H. Howard, Defensatiue sig. DDivv
      2. 1587
        That place was not possessed of the like in manie currents of yeares.
        J. Hooker, Chron. Ireland 136/1 in Holinshed's Chronicles (new edition) vol. II
      3. 1596
        Let not the current of time seeme too protractiue extended, or breed anie disvnion betwixt them.
        T. Nashe, Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. O3
      4. 1602
        My ioyes passion..choakes the current of my speach.
        J. Marston, History of Antonio & Mellida v. sig. I4
      5. 1721
        More perhaps will be said of him in the current of these memorials.
        J. Strype, Ecclesiastical Memorials vol. I. 19
      6. 1788
        Without some such general comprehension, as we may call it, of the whole current of time.
        J. Priestley, Lectures on History iii. xiii. 106
      7. 1817
        The whole current of my restless and ever-changing history.
        T. Chalmers, Series Discourse Christian Revelation iii. 107
      8. 1868
        One more tale will bring us back directly to the current of our story.
        E. A. Freeman, History of Norman Conquest (1876) vol. II. x. 519
      9. 1931
        When the facts crowd in upon the narrative the story loses spaciousness... But, when she turns aside from the current of events,..Mrs. Mackenzie shows herself to be a suggestive student of character.
        Daily Telegraph 29 May (London Late edition) 7/2
      10. 2002
        Ovid inserts a short ecphrasis, skilfully positioned so as to offer the least possible obstruction to the current of the narrative.
        E. J. Kenney in B. W. Boyd, Brill's Companion Ovid ii. 65
    3. 3.c.
      1595–
      The general tendency or tenor of something, esp. the ideas, opinions, or feelings of a particular group or community.
      1. 1595
        In some persons (who giuing themselues to the ful current of their disposition, making their wil their God, and their hand their lawe) matters are carried in a contrarye course.
        V. Saviolo, Practise sig. O3v
      2. 1607
        This is..plaine and obuious out of the very current of the words.
        S. Hieron, Spirituall Sonne-ship in Works (1620) vol. I. 370
      3. 1692
        If you say you meant barely considering in your first Paper, as the whole current of it would make one believe.
        J. Locke, 3rd Letter for Toleration x. 255
      4. 1782
        The current of men's opinions having..set that way.
        J. Priestley, History of Corruptions of Christianity vol. I. i. 76
      5. 1888
        Mirabeau's famous words..express the whole current of modern feeling.
        J. Bryce, American Commonwealth vol. I. xii. 152
      6. 1944
        At the end of this war..a violent struggle will begin between various currents of thought.
        Courier & Advertiser (Dundee) 2 September (2nd edition) 3/2
      7. 2019
        I've never been a slave to fashion—not in dress..but neither in chasing the prevailing current of opinion.
        Vincennes (Indiana) Sun-Commercial 27 April 1/1
  4. 4.
    1582–1874
    † An incline on a gutter, roof, pavement, etc., to allow water to run off. Cf. current adj. 1c. Obsolete.
    1. 1582
      No..persons shall make their pavements higher then an other, but that hit may have a reasonable currant.
      in W. H. Turner, Selections Records Oxford (1880) 423
    2. 1699
      Neglect of Levelling the streets and ordering the Currents yrof.
      in Colonial Records of Pennsylvania (1852) vol. I. 559
    3. 1703
      Take care that the Gutter..lie..in such a Position that it may have a good Current.
      R. Neve, City & Countrey Purchaser 161
    4. 1823
      All sheet lead is laid with a current to keep it dry.
      P. Nicholson, New Practical Builder 407
    5. 1874
      Gutters usually have a current of ¼ inch to the foot.
      E. H. Knight, American Mechanical Dictionary vol. I. 661/1
  5. 5.
    1586–1803
    † Circulation (of money). Cf. currency n. A.I.1a. Obsolete.
    1. 1586
      This priuie councel..taketh order for the currant and finenesse of money.
      T. Bowes, translation of P. de la Primaudaye, French Academie vol. I. 684
    2. 1651
      The regulating of the Mint, and the current of Money.
      N. Bacon, Continuation of Historicall Discourse Government of England 74
    3. 1803
      From wealth they could receive little assistance: trade, which regulates the current of money, was carried on at the will of the parent country.
      G. R. Minot, Contin. Hist. Province of Massachusetts vol. II. viii. 181
    economics and commerce
    1. 6.a.
      1670–
      Physics. Originally: †a flow of a fluid or particles held to be responsible for magnetic or electrical effects (obsolete). In later use: a flow of electric charge now known to be carried by electrons, ions, etc.; the rate of this flow, esp. in an electric circuit.
      In the International System of Units the rate of flow of electric charge is measured in amperes and the usual symbol is I or i.
      alternating current, direct current: see the first element.
      1. 1670
        The inequalities of the Earth may in time occasion some bending in the current of this Magnetick matter.
        Philosophical Transactions (Royal Society) vol. 5 1185
      2. 1742
        The whole Lines being Packthread, except five Feet of silk Line tied at each of the separated Extremities, as well as at the Knot where the other Ends united, in order to stop the Current of the Effluvia.
        Philosophical Transactions 1739–40 (Royal Society) vol. 41 112
      3. 1752
        Perhaps the auroræ boreales are currents of this fluid in its own region, above our atmosphere.
        B. Franklin, Letter 23 April in Experiments & Observations on Electricity (1769) 264
      4. 1846
        From the manner in which the peculiar force called Electricity, is apparently transmitted through certain bodies..the term current is commonly used to denote its progressive direction.
        W. R. Grove, On Correlation of Physical Forces 23
      5. 1881
        Dynamo machines..that supply alternating currents, i.e. currents alternately in opposite directions.
        W. L. Carpenter, Energy in Nature 153
      6. 1956
        Current in the control winding creates a magnetic field which causes the central wire to change from its superconducting state to its normal state.
        D. A. Buck in Proceedings IRE vol. 44 482
      7. 1981
        If a discharged battery starts out taking 20A from the generator, the average current is about 10A.
        Cruising World November 105/1
      8. 2020
        The heater is a 15-amp appliance drawing considerable current.
        New York Times (Nexis) 13 December re6
      physicselectrical
    2. 6.b.
      1731–
      Physiology. Originally: †the flow of a fluid supposed to be contained within nerves, and responsible for their activity (obsolete). In later use: a flow of electric charge within nerves or muscles or their cells; the movement of ions across the membrane of a nerve or muscle cell as the result of an electrochemical gradient.
      muscle current, nerve current: see the first element.
      1. 1731
        From a Deficiency of the Quantity of the nervous Fluid; or an undue Abatement of its Motion and Current into the Organs of Sense.
        T. Lobb, Treat. Small Pox i. vii. 97
      2. 1827
        The nervous ramifications may be regarded as so many conductors of nervous currents, some of which proceed in the same and others in opposite directions.
        Edinburgh Medical & Surgical Journal vol. 27 336
      3. 1860
        It is easy to suppose that these currents may be kept up by the respiratory or chemical changes which are produced by blood in muscle and nerve.
        Lancet 12 May 461/1
      4. 1913
        The fine cerebral adjustment of co-ordination is continuously and successively..regulating the innervation currents of an infinite variety of spinal neurons.
        F. W. Mott & S.V. Sewell in M. S. Pembrey & J. Ritchie, Text-book General Pathology x. 428
      5. 1970
        If such a cell does have an axon, currents generated at the initial segment may act the same way towards the somato-dendritic and dendro-dendritic junctions.
        Brain Research vol. 20 138
      6. 2005
        They used a suction electrode to record the membrane current of pieces of toad retina with high rod-cell density.
        R. Macfarlane in Granta Summer 222
      neurologyphysiologyelectrical
  7. 7.
    1930–
    Physics. In classical and quantum mechanics: the flow of a time-dependent probability density; the flow of a conserved quantity derived from a continuous symmetry of the equations of motion governing a physical system; (also) a mathematical function describing such flows.
    Earliest in probability current.
    neutral current: see the first element.
    The mathematician Emmy Noether (1882–1935) was the first to describe the relationship between the continuous symmetries of the equations of motion of a physical system and the conserved quantities of that system.
    [Originally after German Wahrscheinlichkeitsstrom probability current (1929 in the article abstracted in quot. 1930).]
    1. 1930
      The solution of Dirac's wave equations for the electron enable a scalar, probability density, and a vector, probability current, to be determined.
      Science Abstracts A. vol. 33 86
    2. 1958
      Imagine that the interaction is due to some intermediate (electrically charged) vector meson of very high mass M0. If this meson is coupled to the ‘current’ ( \(\displaystyle \overline{ψ}_{p}γ_{μ}aψ_{n}\) ) and ( \(\displaystyle \overline{ψ}_{μ}γ_{μ}aψ_{ν}\) ) by a coupling.., then the interaction of the two ‘currents’ would result from the exchange of this ‘meson’ if 4πf2M0−2 = (8)½G.
      Physical Review vol. 109 196/1
    3. 1978
      Here two charged leptonic currents interact, one of them turning a muon into a mu-neutrino, the other generating an electron and its antineutrino.
      Nature 11 May 98/2
    4. 1999
      This property allows one to identify the current as the electromagnetic current of the electron fields.
      U. Mosel, Fields, Symmetries, & Quarks (ed. 2) ii. 18
    5. 2019
      This current showed that all the complicated waves and disturbances taken together add up to a number of quanta (fermions) that is preserved (particle number conservation).
      W. Schmitz, Particles, Fields & Forces xv. 205
    statisticsparticle physics