a portion of a large body of water or mass of air that moves in a certain direction:The raft was swept into the current and carried out to sea.
Electricitythe movement or flow of electric charge, measured in amperes:The current was switched off so that the train crews could walk safely on the tracks.
a general tendency, course, or trend, as of thinking or ideas:a current of unrest among the students.
cur•rent•ly,adv.:This style is currently in fashion.See -cur-.
passing in time; belonging to the time actually passing:the current month.
prevalent; customary:the current practice.
popular; in vogue:current fashions.
new; present; most recent:the current issue of a publication.
publicly reported or known:a rumor that is current.
passing from one to another; circulating, as a coin.
[Archaic.]running; flowing.
[Obs.]genuine; authentic.
n.
a flowing; flow, as of a river.
something that flows, as a stream.
a large portion of air, large body of water, etc., moving in a certain direction.
the speed at which such flow moves; velocity of flow.
ElectricitySee electric current.
a course, as of time or events; the main course; the general tendency.
Latin as above; see -ent
Anglo-French
Latin current- (stem of currēns) running (present participle of currere); replacing Middle English curraunt
1250–1300
cur′rent•ly, adv.
2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged common, widespread, popular, rife. Current,present,prevailing,prevalent refer to something generally or commonly in use. That which is current is in general circulation or a matter of common knowledge or acceptance:current usage in English.Present refers to that which is in use now; it always has the sense of time:present customs.That which is prevailing is that which has superseded others:prevailing fashion.That which is prevalent exists or is spread widely:a prevalent idea.
3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged stylish, fashionable, modish.
10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See stream.
2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged obsolete.
3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged old-fashioned.