direct current

n. Abbr. DC

An electric current flowing in one direction only.

direct current

(Physics / General Physics) a continuous electric current that flows in one direction only, without substantial variation in magnitude Abbreviation DC Compare alternating current

direct′ cur′rent
n.

an electric current of constant direction, having a magnitude that does not vary or varies only slightly. Abbr.: DC Compare alternating current.

[1885–90]

di•rect′-cur′rent, adj.

direct current (d

-r

)

An electric current that moves in one direction with constant strength. Batteries are a source of direct current. Direct current is not used for long-distance power transmission because it is difficult to step up the voltage to a level that is efficient for energy transfer and then to step the voltage back down again for safe domestic use. Compare alternating current. See Notes at current Tesla, Nikola

Thesaurus Legend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun

direct current - an electric current that flows in one direction steadily

direct electric current, DC

electrical energy, electricity - energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity"

alternating current, alternating electric current, AC - an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally; "In the US most household current is AC at 60 cycles per second"

Translations

direct current n (Elec) → corrente f continua

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Dictionary browser	?		Full browser	?
AC/DC alternating alternating current amplidyne armature Battery bonding cardioversion change changeover choke choke coil Choking coil circuit coil commutate commutator commute conductance	Did this to search for a more direct current, but found none so favorable as the one we are now in. The Balloon Hoax by Poe, Edgar Allan View in context	diquat dir. Dirac Dirac constant Dirac P(aul) A(drien) M(aurice) Dirac sea Dirac's constant Diradiation Dirca Dirca palustris dire dire straits dire wolf direct direct access direct access storage device direct action direct action fuze direct air support center direct air support center (airborne) direct antonym direct contrast direct correlation direct cost direct coupling direct current direct damage assessment direct debit Direct demonstration direct deposit direct dialling direct discourse direct distance dialing direct dye direct electric current direct evidence direct examination direct exchange direct fire direct flight direct hit direct illumination direct injection direct input direct labour direct laying direct liaison authorized direct lighting direct line direct loan direct mail	direct Coombs test direct Coombs tests direct Coombs' test Direct Copper Bonding direct correlation Direct Cosine Transform Direct cost Direct cost Direct cost Direct cost Direct Cost of Financial Distress Direct Cost of Sale direct costs direct costs direct costs direct costs direct costs Direct costs of financial distress Direct coupled Direct Coupled FET Logic Direct Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy Direct Coupled System Direct Coupled Transistor Logic Direct Coupled Unipolar Transistor Logic Direct coupling Direct coupling Direct Coupling Modulated Bias Direct Credit direct cross-connection Direct Cryptographic Interface direct current Direct Current / Radio Frequency Direct Current Amperage Direct Current Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Direct Current Cable Direct Current Cardioversion Direct Current Cardioversion Direct Current Charging Unit Direct Current Circuit Breaker Direct Current Common Direct Current Control cabinet Direct Current Converter Direct Current Counter Shock Direct Current Coupled Burst-Mode Receiver Direct Current Electro-Luminescent Direct Current Electro-Luminescent Display Direct Current Electrode Negative Direct Current Experiment Direct Current Isolation Relay Direct Current Leakage Direct Current Level Adjustment Direct Current Level Shift Direct Current Offset Correction Direct Current Permanent Magnet Direct Current Permanent Magnet Motor Direct Current Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Dictionary browser

Full browser

AC/DC
alternating
alternating current
amplidyne
armature
Battery
bonding
cardioversion
change
changeover
choke
choke coil
Choking coil
circuit
coil
commutate
commutator
commute
conductance

Did this to search for a more direct current, but found none so favorable as the one we are now in.

The Balloon Hoax by Poe, Edgar Allan View in context

direct Coombs test
direct Coombs tests
direct Coombs' test
Direct Copper Bonding
direct correlation
Direct Cosine Transform
Direct cost
Direct cost
Direct cost
Direct cost
Direct Cost of Financial Distress
Direct Cost of Sale
direct costs
direct costs
direct costs
direct costs
direct costs
Direct costs of financial distress
Direct coupled
Direct Coupled FET Logic
Direct Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy
Direct Coupled System
Direct Coupled Transistor Logic
Direct Coupled Unipolar Transistor Logic
Direct coupling
Direct coupling
Direct Coupling Modulated Bias
Direct Credit
direct cross-connection
Direct Cryptographic Interface

direct current

Direct Current / Radio Frequency
Direct Current Amperage
Direct Current Anodic Stripping Voltammetry
Direct Current Cable
Direct Current Cardioversion
Direct Current Cardioversion
Direct Current Charging Unit
Direct Current Circuit Breaker
Direct Current Common
Direct Current Control cabinet
Direct Current Converter
Direct Current Counter Shock
Direct Current Coupled Burst-Mode Receiver
Direct Current Electro-Luminescent
Direct Current Electro-Luminescent Display
Direct Current Electrode Negative
Direct Current Experiment
Direct Current Isolation Relay
Direct Current Leakage
Direct Current Level Adjustment
Direct Current Level Shift
Direct Current Offset Correction
Direct Current Permanent Magnet
Direct Current Permanent Magnet Motor
Direct Current Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry