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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

charge

[chahrj] Pronunciation Key verb, charged, charg·ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to impose or ask as a price or fee: That store charges $25 for leather gloves.

2.	to impose on or ask of (someone) a price or fee: He didn't charge me for it.

3.	to defer payment for (a purchase) until a bill is rendered by the creditor: The store let me charge the coat.

4.	to hold liable for payment; enter a debit against.

5.	to attack by rushing violently against: The cavalry charged the enemy.

6.	to accuse formally or explicitly (usually fol. by with): They charged him with theft.

7.	to impute; ascribe the responsibility for: He charged the accident to his own carelessness.

8.	to instruct authoritatively, as a judge does a jury.

9.	to lay a command or injunction upon: He charged his secretary with the management of his correspondence.

10.	to fill or furnish (a thing) with the quantity, as of powder or fuel, that it is fitted to receive: to charge a musket.

11.	to supply with a quantity of electric charge or electrical energy: to charge a storage battery.

12.	to change the net amount of positive or negative electric charge of (a particle, body, or system).

13.	to suffuse, as with emotion: The air was charged with excitement.

14.	to fill (air, water, etc.) with other matter in a state of diffusion or solution: The air was charged with pollen.

15.	Metallurgy. to load (materials) into a furnace, converter, etc.

16.	to load or burden (the mind, heart, etc.): His mind was charged with weighty matters.

17.	to put a load or burden on or in.

18.	to record the loan of, as books or other materials from a library (often fol. by out): The librarian will charge those books at the front desk.

19.	to borrow, as books or other materials from a library (often fol. by out): How many magazines may I charge at one time?

20.	Heraldry. to place charges on (an escutcheon).

–verb (used without object)

21.	to make an onset; rush, as to an attack.

22.	to place the price of a thing to one's debit.

23.	to require payment: to charge for a service.

24.	to make a debit, as in an account.

25.	(of dogs) to lie down at command.

–noun

26.	expense or cost: improvements made at a tenant's own charge.

27.	a fee or price charged: a charge of three dollars for admission.

28.	a pecuniary burden, encumbrance, tax, or lien; cost; expense; liability to pay: After his death there were many charges on his estate.

29.	an entry in an account of something due.

30.	an impetuous onset or attack, as of soldiers.

31.	a signal by bugle, drum, etc., for a military charge.

32.	a duty or responsibility laid upon or entrusted to one.

33.	care, custody, or superintendence: The child was placed in her nurse's charge.

34.	anything or anybody committed to one's care or management: The nurse was careful to let no harm come to her charge.

35.	Ecclesiastical. a parish or congregation committed to the spiritual care of a pastor.

36.	a command or injunction; exhortation.

37.	an accusation: He was arrested on a charge of theft.

38.	Law. an address by a judge to a jury at the close of a trial, instructing it as to the legal points, the weight of evidence, etc., affecting the verdict in the case.

39.	the quantity of anything that an apparatus is fitted to hold, or holds, at one time: a charge of coal for a furnace.

40.	a quantity of explosive to be set off at one time.

41.

Electricity.

a.	electric charge.

b.	the process of charging a storage battery.

42.	Slang. a thrill; kick.

43.	Rocketry. grains of a solid propellant, usually including an inhibitor.

44.	a load or burden.

45.	Heraldry. any distinctive mark upon an escutcheon, as an ordinary or device, not considered as belonging to the field; bearing.

—Verb phrases

46.

charge off,

a.	to write off as an expense or loss.

b.	to attribute to: I charged off the blunder to inexperience.

47.

charge up, Informal.

a.	to agitate, stimulate, or excite: a fiery speaker who can charge up an audience.

b.	to put or be under the influence of narcotic drugs.

—Idioms

48.

in charge,

a.	in command; having supervisory power.

b.	British. under arrest; in or into the custody of the police.

49.

in charge of,

a.	having the care or supervision of: She is in charge of two libraries.

b.	Also, in the charge of. under the care or supervision of: The books are in the charge of the accounting office.

[Origin: 1175–1225; 1950–55 for def. 39; (v.) ME chargen < AF, OF charg(i)er < LL carricāre to load a wagon, equiv. to carr(us) wagon (see car¹) + -icā- v. suffix. + -re inf. ending; (n.) ME < AF, OF, n. deriv. of the v.

]

—Related forms

chargeless, adjective

—Synonyms 5. assault. 6. indict, arraign, impeach. 9. enjoin, exhort, urge, bid, require, order. 27. See price. 30. onslaught, assault. 32. commission, trust. 33. management. 37. indictment, imputation, allegation. 44. cargo, freight.

—Antonyms 6. acquit, absolve.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

char·gé

[shahr-zhey, shahr-zhey; Fr. shar-zhey] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural -gés

[-zheyz; -zheyz; Fr. -zhey] Pronunciation Key.

a chargé d'affaires.

[Origin: by shortening

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

charge   (chärj) Pronunciation Key
v.   charged, charg·ing, charg·es

v.   tr.

To impose a duty, responsibility, or obligation on: charged him with the task of watching the young swimmers.
To set or ask (a given amount) as a price: charges ten dollars for a haircut.
To hold financially liable; demand payment from: charged her for the balance due.
To postpone payment on (a purchase) by recording as a debt: paid cash for the stockings but charged the new coat.
1. To load to capacity; fill: charge a furnace with coal.
2. To saturate; impregnate: The atmosphere was charged with tension.
3. To bump (an opponent) so as to knock off balance or gain control of the ball, as in soccer.
4. To body-check (an opponent) illegally, from behind or after taking more than two strides, as in ice hockey.
5. To cause formation of a net electric charge on or in (a conductor, for example).
6. To energize (a storage battery) by passing current through it in the direction opposite to discharge.
To load (a gun or other firearm) with a quantity of explosive: charged the musket with powder.
To instruct or urge authoritatively; command: charged her not to reveal the source of information.
Law To instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
To make a claim of wrongdoing against; accuse or blame: The police charged him with car theft. Critics charged the writer with a lack of originality.
To put the blame for; attribute or impute: charged the accident to the driver's inexperience.
To attack violently: The troops charged the enemy line.
Basketball To bump or run into (a defender) illegally while in possession of the ball or having just made a pass or shot.
Sports
1. To bump (an opponent) so as to knock off balance or gain control of the ball, as in soccer.
2. To body-check (an opponent) illegally, from behind or after taking more than two strides, as in ice hockey.
3. To cause formation of a net electric charge on or in (a conductor, for example).
4. To energize (a storage battery) by passing current through it in the direction opposite to discharge.
Electricity
1. To cause formation of a net electric charge on or in (a conductor, for example).
2. To energize (a storage battery) by passing current through it in the direction opposite to discharge.
To excite; rouse: a speaker who knows how to charge up a crowd.
To direct or put (a weapon) into position for use; level.
Heraldry To place a charge on (an escutcheon).

v. intr.

To rush forward in or as if in a violent attack: dogs trained to charge at intruders; children charging through the house.
To demand or ask payment: did not charge for the second cup of coffee.
To postpone payment for a purchase.
Accounting To consider or record as a loss. Often used with off.

1. Expense; cost.
2. The price asked for something: no charge for window-shopping.
3. A weight or burden; a load: a freighter relieved of its charge of cargo.
4. The quantity that a container or apparatus can hold.
5. Supervision; management: the scientist who had overall charge of the research project.
6. Care; custody: a child put in my charge.
7. A rushing, forceful attack: repelled the charge of enemy troops; the charge of a herd of elephants.
8. The command to attack: The bugler sounded the charge.
9. The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the force of the electromagnetic interaction, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
10. A measure of this property.
11. The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space.
1. A weight or burden; a load: a freighter relieved of its charge of cargo.
2. The quantity that a container or apparatus can hold.
3. Supervision; management: the scientist who had overall charge of the research project.
4. Care; custody: a child put in my charge.
5. A rushing, forceful attack: repelled the charge of enemy troops; the charge of a herd of elephants.
6. The command to attack: The bugler sounded the charge.
7. The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the force of the electromagnetic interaction, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
8. A measure of this property.
9. The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space.
A quantity of explosive to be set off at one time.
An assigned duty or task; a responsibility: The commission's charge was to determine the facts.
One that is entrusted to another's care or management: the baby sitter's three young charges.
1. Supervision; management: the scientist who had overall charge of the research project.
2. Care; custody: a child put in my charge.
3. A rushing, forceful attack: repelled the charge of enemy troops; the charge of a herd of elephants.
4. The command to attack: The bugler sounded the charge.
5. The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the force of the electromagnetic interaction, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
6. A measure of this property.
7. The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space.
An order, command, or injunction.
Law Instruction given by a judge to a jury about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
A claim of wrongdoing; an accusation: a charge of murder; pleaded not guilty to the charges.
1. A rushing, forceful attack: repelled the charge of enemy troops; the charge of a herd of elephants.
2. The command to attack: The bugler sounded the charge.
3. The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the force of the electromagnetic interaction, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
4. A measure of this property.
5. The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space.
A debt or an entry in an account recording a debt: Are you paying cash or is this a charge?
A financial burden, such as a tax or lien.
Symbol q Physics
1. The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the force of the electromagnetic interaction, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
2. A measure of this property.
3. The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space.
Informal A feeling of pleasant excitement; a thrill: got a real charge out of the movie.
Heraldry Any figure or device represented on the field of an escutcheon.

[Middle English chargen, to load, from Old French chargier, from Late Latin carricāre, from Latin carrus, Gallic type of wagon, of Celtic origin; see kers- in Indo-European roots.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause to be filled with a particular mood or tone: an atmosphere charged with excitement; poetry imbued with lyricism; a spirit impregnated with lofty ideals; optimism that permeates a group; letters pervaded with gloom; a play saturated with imagination; a heart suffused with love. See Also Synonyms at care.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
charge

c.1225, from O.Fr. chargier "load, burden," from L.L. carricare "to load a wagon, cart," from L. carrus "wagon" (see car). Meaning "responsibility, burden" is c.1340 (cf. take charge, 1389; in charge, 1513), which progressed to "pecuniary burden, cost" (1460), and then to "price demanded for service or goods" (1514). Legal sense of "accusation" is 1477; earlier "injunction, order" (1380s). Sense of "rush in to attack" is 1568, perhaps through earlier meaning of "load a weapon" (1541). Electrical sense is from 1767. Slang meaning "thrill, kick" (Amer.Eng.) is from 1951. Charger "horse ridden by officer in the field" is from 1762. Chargé d'affairs was borrowed from Fr. 1767.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

charge
noun
1.	an impetuous rush toward someone or something; "the wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary"; "the battle began with a cavalry charge"
2.	(criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense; "he was arrested on a charge of larceny"
3.	the price charged for some article or service; "the admission charge"
4.	the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons; "the battery needed a fresh charge"
5.	attention and management implying responsibility for safety; "he is in the care of a bodyguard" [syn: care]
6.	a special assignment that is given to a person or group; "a confidential mission to London"; "his charge was deliver a message" [syn: mission]
7.	a person committed to your care; "the teacher led her charges across the street"
8.	financial liabilities (such as a tax); "the charges against the estate"
9.	(psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object; "Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge" [syn: cathexis]
10.	the swift release of a store of affective force; "they got a great bang out of it"; "what a boot!"; "he got a quick rush from injecting heroin"; "he does it for kicks" [syn: bang]
11.	request for payment of a debt; "they submitted their charges at the end of each month"
12.	a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something; "the judge's charge to the jury" [syn: commission]
13.	an assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence; "the newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving" [syn: accusation]
14.	heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield
15.	a quantity of explosive to be set off at one time; "this cartridge has a powder charge of 50 grains"
verb
1.	to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle; "he saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork"
2.	blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against; "he charged the director with indifference"
3.	demand payment; "Will I get charged for this service?"; "We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights"
4.	move quickly and violently; "The car tore down the street"; "He came charging into my office" [syn: tear]
5.	assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to; "He was appointed deputy manager"; "She was charged with supervising the creation of a concordance" [syn: appoint]
6.	file a formal charge against; "The suspect was charged with murdering his wife"
7.	make an accusatory claim; "The defense attorney charged that the jurors were biased"
8.	fill or load to capacity; "charge the wagon with hay" [ant: discharge]
9.	enter a certain amount as a charge; "he charged me $15"
10.	cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution; "After the second episode, she had to be committed"; "he was committed to prison" [syn: commit]
11.	give over to another for care or safekeeping; "consign your baggage" [syn: consign]
12.	pay with a credit card; pay with plastic money; postpone payment by recording a purchase as a debt; "Will you pay cash or charge the purchase?" [ant: pay cash]
13.	lie down on command, of hunting dogs
14.	cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks" [syn: agitate] [ant: calm]
15.	place a heraldic bearing on; "charge all weapons, shields, and banners"
16.	provide (a device) with something necessary; "He loaded his gun carefully"; "load the camera" [syn: load]
17.	direct into a position for use; "point a gun"; "He charged his weapon at me"
18.	impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to; "He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend"
19.	instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence
20.	instruct or command with authority; "The teacher charged the children to memorize the poem"
21.	attribute responsibility to; "We blamed the accident on her"; "The tragedy was charged to her inexperience" [syn: blame]
22.	set or ask for a certain price; "How much do you charge for lunch?"; "This fellow charges $100 for a massage"
23.	cause formation of a net electrical charge in or on; "charge a conductor"
24.	energize a battery by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to discharge; "I need to charge my car battery"
25.	saturate; "The room was charged with tension and anxiety"

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

charge

In addition to the idioms beginning with charge, also see carrying charge; get a bang (charge) out of; in charge; in charge of; take charge.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

charge (chärj) Pronunciation Key

A fundamental property of the elementary particles of which matter is made that gives rise to attractive and repulsive forces. There are two kinds of charge: color charge and electric charge. See more at color charge , electric charge.
The amount of electric charge contained in an object, particle, or region of space.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: charge
Function: noun
1 a : something required : OBLIGATION b : personal management or supervision charge> c : a person or thing placed under the care of another
2 : an authoritative instruction or command; especially : instruction in points of law given by a judge to a jury charge —W. Railroad LaFave and A. W. Scott, Junior>
3 a : an incurred expense b : the price demanded for something (as admission or use) charge> c : a debit to an account; especially : a debit resulting from unexpected operating expenses charge against earnings>
4 : a formal allegation of an offense or wrongdoing charge that was dismissed —National Law Journal> —see also COMPLAINT, INDICTMENT, INFORMATION

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: charge
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: charged; charg·ing
1 a : to impose a task or responsibility on charged with protecting civil rights> b : to command or instruct with authority; especially : to give a charge to (a jury) charged on common-law negligence —National Law Journal>
2 a : to make an accusation against esp. in order to bring to trial <charging her with attempted robbery> —see also ACCUSE,, INDICT b : to allege esp. as an accusation charged in the indictment>
3 a : to impose a financial liability on <charge the estate> b : to impose or record as a financial burden or liability <charge the debts to the estate> <charging the loss against earnings>
4 a : to fix or ask as a fee or payment <charge $4 for parking> b : to ask payment of (an individual or organization) <charge a client for expenses> —charge·able adjective

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Charge

Charge\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charged; p. pr. & vb. n. Charging.] [OF. chargier, F. charger, fr. LL. carricare, fr. L. carrus wagon. Cf. Cargo, Caricature, Cark, and see Car.]

1. To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill.

A carte that charged was with hay. --Chaucer.

The charging of children's memories with rules. --Locke.

2. To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command, instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as, to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an agent.

Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God. --Josh. xxii. 5.

Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. --Shak.

3. To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for.

When land shall be charged by any lien. --Kent.

4. To fix or demand as a price; as, he charges two dollars a barrel for apples.

5. To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as, to charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an account; as, to charge a sum to one.

6. To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge.

No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crime On native sloth and negligence of time. --Dryden.

7. To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a person or thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the door of.

If he did that wrong you charge him with. --Tennyson.

8. To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine, etc.

Their battering cannon charged to the mouths. --Shak.

9. To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural member with a molding.

10. (Her.) To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or.

11. To call to account; to challenge. [Obs.]

To charge me to an answer. --Shak.

12. To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack.

Charged our main battle's front. --Shak.

Syn: To intrust; command; exhort; instruct; accuse; impeach; arraign. See Accuse.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Charge

Charge\, v. i. 1. To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets.

Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. --Glanvill.

"Charge for the guns!" he said. --Tennyson.

2. To demand a price; as, to charge high for goods.

3. To debit on an account; as, to charge for purchases.

4. To squat on its belly and be still; -- a command given by a sportsman to a dog.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Charge

Charge\, n. [F. charge, fr. charger to load. See Charge, v. t., and cf. Cargo, Caricature.]

1. A load or burder laid upon a person or thing.

2. A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of another; a trust.

Note: The people of a parish or church are called the charge of the clergyman who is set over them.

3. Custody or care of any person, thing, or place; office; responsibility; oversight; obigation; duty.

'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand. --Shak.

4. Heed; care; anxiety; trouble. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

5. Harm. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

6. An order; a mandate or command; an injunction.

The king gave cherge concerning Absalom. --2. Sam. xviii. 5.

7. An address (esp. an earnest or impressive address) containing instruction or exhortation; as, the charge of a judge to a jury; the charge of a bishop to his clergy.

8. An accusation of a wrong of offense; allegation; indictment; specification of something alleged.

The charge of confounding very different classes of phenomena. --Whewell.

9. Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines, etc.; costs; expense incurred; -- usually in the plural.

10. The price demanded for a thing or service.

11. An entry or a account of that which is due from one party to another; that which is debited in a business transaction; as, a charge in an account book.

12. That quantity, as of ammunition, electricity, ore, fuel, etc., which any apparatus, as a gun, battery, furnace, machine, etc., is intended to receive and fitted to hold, or which is actually in it at one time

13. The act of rushing upon, or towards, an enemy; a sudden onset or attack, as of troops, esp. cavalry; hence, the signal for attack; as, to sound the charge.

Never, in any other war afore, gave the Romans a hotter charge upon the enemies. --Holland.

The charge of the light brigade. --Tennyson.

14. A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack; as, to bring a weapon to the charge.

15. (Far.) A soft of plaster or ointment.

16. (Her.) A bearing. See Bearing, n., 8.

17. [Cf. Charre.] Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; -- called also charre.

18. Weight; import; value.

Many suchlike "as's" of great charge. --Shak.

Back charge. See under Back, a.

Bursting charge. (a (Mil.) The charge which bursts a shell, etc. (b (Mining) A small quantity of fine powder to secure the ignition of a charge of coarse powder in blasting.

Charge and discharge (Equity Practice), the old mode or form of taking an account before a master in chancery.

Charge sheet, the paper on which are entered at a police station all arrests and accusations.

To sound the charge, to give the signal for an attack.

Syn: Care; custody; trust; management; office; expense; cost; price; assault; attack; onset; injunction; command; order; mandate; instruction; accusation; indictment.

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