charge
noun
\ ˈchärj
\
\
Definition of charge
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
obsolete
: a material load or weight
b
: a figure borne on a heraldic field
2a
: the quantity that an apparatus is intended to receive and fitted to hold
the charge of chemicals in a fire extinguisher
b
: the quantity of explosive used in a single discharge
c
: a store or accumulation of impelling force
the deeply emotional charge of the drama
d
: a definite quantity of electricity
especially
: an excess or deficiency of electrons in a body
3a
: obligation, requirement
… to maintain this readiness … is … a first charge upon our military effort …— Sir Winston Churchill
b
: management, supervision
has charge of the home office
c
: the ecclesiastical jurisdiction (such as a parish) committed to a clergyman
d
: a person or thing committed into the care of another
played with her young charges at the day-care center
4a
: instruction, command
… he gave them charge about the Queen, To guard and foster her forevermore— Alfred Tennyson
b
: instruction in points of law given by a court to a jury
b
: the price demanded for something
no admission charge
c
: a debit to an account
the purchase was a charge
d
: the record of a loan (as of a book from a library)
e
British
: an interest in property granted as security for a loan
6a
: a formal assertion of illegality
a charge of murder
b
: a statement of complaint or hostile criticism
denied the charges of nepotism that were leveled against him
7a(1)
: a violent rush forward (as to attack)
the charge of the brigade
(2)
: the signal for attack
sound the charge
b
: a usually illegal rush into an opponent in various sports (such as basketball)
in charge
: having control or custody of something
he is in charge of the training program
charge
verb
charged;
charging
Definition of charge (Entry 2 of 2)
b(1)
: to place a charge (as of powder) in
(2)
: to load or fill to capacity
c(1)
: to restore the active materials in (a storage battery) by the passage of a direct current through in the opposite direction to that of discharge
(2)
: to give an electric charge to
charge a capacitor
d(1)
: to assume as a heraldic bearing (see bearing sense 4)
(2)
: to place a heraldic bearing on
charged his shield with three roses
e
: to fill or furnish fully
the music is charged with excitement
f
: electrify sense 2
the crowd was charged by her performance
2a
: to impose a task or responsibility on
charge him with the job of finding a new meeting place
b
: to command, instruct, or exhort with authority
I charge you not to go
3a
: to make an assertion against especially by ascribing guilt or blame
charges him with armed robbery they were charged as being instigators
b
: to place the guilt or blame for
charge her failure to negligence
c
: to assert as an accusation
charges that he distorted the data
4a
: to bring (a weapon) into position for attack : level
charge a lance
b
: to rush against : attack
The bull charged the matador.
also
: to rush into (an opponent) usually illegally in various sports
5a(1)
: to impose a financial burden on
charge his estate with debts incurred
(2)
: to impose or record as financial obligation
charge debts to an estate
b(1)
: to fix or ask as fee or payment
charges $50 for an office visit
(2)
: to ask payment of (a person)
charge a client for expenses
c
: to record (an item) as an expense, debt, obligation, or liability
charged a new sofa
1
: to rush forward in or as if in assault : attack
came charging into the room
also
: to charge an opponent in sports
2
: to ask or set a price
do you charge for this service?
3
: to charge an item to an account
charge now, pay later
4
of a battery or battery-powered device
: to gain an electric charge : to receive and store a greater quantity of electrical energy
She left the phone charging overnight.
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