a continuous electric current that flows in one direction only, without substantial variation in magnitude
Compare alternating current
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
diˈrect ˈcur•rent, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Electricityan electric current of constant and only one direction. Abbr.: DCCompare alternating current.
direct′ cur′rent.
di•rect′-cur′rent, adj.
- Electricityan electric current of constant direction, having a magnitude that does not vary or varies only slightly. Abbr.: dc Cf. alternating current.
- 1885–90
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'direct current' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
AC/DC
- DC
- HVDC
- Joule's law
- alternating current
- amplidyne
- blocking capacitor
- cardioversion
- commutate
- compound
- converter
- diode
- direct
- dynamo
- dynamotor
- effective current
- full-wave rectifier
- galvanic
- galvanize
- half-wave rectifier
- ignition coil
- induction coil
- intermittent current
- inversion
- inverter
- power
- rectifier
- rectify
- substation
- synchronous converter
- thermogalvanometer
- transform
- universal motor
- volt-ampere
- wet contact