alternating current


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Related to alternating current: direct current

al·ter·nat·ing current

(ôl′tər-nā′tĭng, ăl′-)
n. Abbr. AC
An electric current that reverses direction in a circuit at regular intervals.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

alternating current

n
(Electrical Engineering) a continuous electric current that periodically reverses direction, usually sinusoidally. Abbreviation: AC Compare: direct current
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

al′ternating cur′rent


n.
an electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals, having a magnitude that varies continuously in a sinusoidal manner. Abbr.: AC Compare direct current.
[1830–40]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

al·ter·nat·ing current

(ôl′tər-nā′tĭng)
An electric current that reverses its direction of flow at regular intervals. Because the voltage of alternating current can be easily controlled with transformers, this is the type of electricity generated by power stations. The transformers raise the voltage to make it easier to transmit over long distances, then lower the voltage for safer use in homes and buildings. Compare direct current. See Notes at current, Tesla.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

alternating current

A rapidly reversing electric current.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.alternating current - an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidallyalternating current - an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally; "In the US most household current is AC at 60 cycles per second"
alternating electric current, AC
electrical energy, electricity - energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity"
direct current, direct electric current, DC - an electric current that flows in one direction steadily
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

alternating current

[ˈɒltəneɪtɪŋˈkʌr/ənt] n → corrente f alternata
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
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