electrocute
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Etymology
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɪˈlɛktɹəkjuːt/, /əˈlɛktɹəkjuːt/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Verb
electrocute (third-person singular simple present electrocutes, present participle electrocuting, simple past and past participle electrocuted)
- (transitive) To kill by electric shock.
- Her hairdryer fell into the tub while she was bathing, and she was electrocuted.
- (transitive) To execute by electric shock, often by means of an electric chair.
- Synonym: (slang) fry
- The executioner threw the switch on Old Sparky, and the condemned prisoner was electrocuted for his crimes.
- (transitive, proscribed, informal) To inflict a severe electric shock (not necessarily fatal) upon.
Usage notes
- Formally, the words electrocute and electrocution always imply fatality. Informally, however, these terms are rather often used to refer to serious but nonfatal electric shocks. Standard usage is to reserve electrocute and electrocution for fatal electric shocks, and to use shock or electric shock for nonfatal ones.
- Originally, electrocute and electrocution specifically referred only to judicial execution by electric shock. However, electrocute and electrocution are now used to refer to all fatal electric shocks, even those not used in execution.
Related terms
- electrocution (noun)
Translations
to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
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Verb
electrocute
- inflection of electrocutar:
Verb
electrocute
- inflection of electrocutar:
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