electrocute

[ ih-lek-truh-kyoot ]
See synonyms for: electrocuteelectrocution on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),e·lec·tro·cut·ed, e·lec·tro·cut·ing.
  1. to kill by electricity.

  2. to execute (a criminal) by electricity, as in an electric chair.

  1. to pass an electric current through; shock: The toaster burned my toast and then electrocuted me when I tried to unplug it.

Origin of electrocute

1
An Americanism first recorded in 1885–90; electro- + (exe)cute

Other words from electrocute

  • e·lec·tro·cu·tion [ih-lek-truh-kyoo-shuhn], /ɪˌlɛk trəˈkyu ʃən/, noun

Words Nearby electrocute

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use electrocute in a sentence

  • "Thar's a cayuse in thar thet I'd plumb like ter electrocute," said Bud, who was mad clear through.

    Ted Strong's Motor Car | Edward C. Taylor
  • We electrocute the Italian and print pictures of the wheat speculator in our magazines as an example of Success.

    The Root of Evil | Thomas Dixon
  • And if you make any sudden moves you are liable to break a phone, electrocute yourself or choke to death.

    Sense of Obligation | Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)
  • The man in the control room had frustrated the attempt to electrocute us.

    Spacewrecked on Venus | Neil R. Jones

British Dictionary definitions for electrocute

electrocute

/ (ɪˈlɛktrəˌkjuːt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to kill as a result of an electric shock

  2. US to execute in the electric chair

Origin of electrocute

1
C19: from electro- + (exe)cute

Derived forms of electrocute

  • electrocution, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012