Definition of direct current
: an electric current flowing in one direction only and substantially constant in value
—abbreviation DC
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Recent Examples of direct current from the Web
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Third rails supply power to trains from direct current electricity via a conductor that’s built either alongside or in between railroad tracks.
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The plant will create energy by converting sunlight via photovoltaic solar arrays into direct current electricity and converting it into alternating current utilizing power inverters.
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The Alamo City — which was in eighth place last year — now has 161 megawatts of direct current solar power installed, according to the latest Shining Cities report from Environment America.
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There are some losses transmitting the power to the part where the microwave power is turned into a direct current power.
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How To Turn Your Car Into a Generator Car electricity runs on direct current, but almost everything else is alternating current.
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At the winter games, the latest method is transcranial direct current stimulation, also known as brain stimulation headphones.
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Cathodic protection uses a device called a rectifier—a transformer which is connected to nearby power lines and converts alternating current to direct current.
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Within seconds of bringing a fish to the surface, the crew moves it to a stun table that renders the animal unconscious with about 10 volts of direct current.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'direct current.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of direct current
1849
DIRECT CURRENT Defined for English Language Learners
direct current
Definition of direct current for English Language Learners
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: an electric current that is flowing in one direction only
DIRECT CURRENT Defined for Kids
direct current
Definition of direct current for Students
: an electric current flowing in one direction only
Medical Dictionary
direct current
medical Definition of direct current
: an electric current flowing in one direction only and substantially constant in value
—abbreviation DC
Learn More about direct current
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Spanish Central: Translation of direct current Nglish: Translation of direct current for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about direct current
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