I. ˈkər.ənt, ˈkə.rə- adjective
Etymology: Middle English curraunt, coraunt, from Old French corant, curant, present participle of corre, courre to run, from Latin currere; akin to Middle High German hurren to hurry, Old Irish & Middle Welsh carr vehicle, Greek epi kouros hastening to aid, and perhaps to Old English & Old High German horsc wise, quick, Old Norse horskr
1.
a. archaic : running , flowing , moving
b. archaic : fluent : flowing easily and smoothly
c.
(1) : presently elapsing
the current fiscal year
the current month
(2) : occurring in or belonging to the present time : in evidence or in operation at the time actually elapsing
the current crisis
current excitement over elections
current services
(3) of a serial publication : most recent
the current number of a quarterly magazine
2.
a. : being in use as a medium of exchange : circulating as money
the current coin of the realm
b. obsolete : not counterfeit or spurious : genuine
3.
a. : in general knowledge, acceptance, use, or practice : prevalent , accustomed , general : commonly accepted, engaged in, followed, used, or practiced : in vogue : contemporary
current fashions
current customs
current beliefs
current theories of education
b. mathematics : varying from point to point : general
Synonyms: see prevailing
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English curraunt, from Middle French curant, from curant, adjective
1.
a. : the part of a fluid body (as air or water) moving continuously in a certain direction : stream
b. : the swiftest part of a stream
c. : a tidal or nontidal movement often horizontal of lake or ocean water : drift
d. : condition of flowing : flow marked by force or strength : flow , flux
the violent current of the mountain stream
e. : the velocity of flow of a fluid in a stream
measured the current and temperature in the sea just off the ice shelf — Valter Schytt
2. : inclination given a channel or a surface shedding water : pitch , tilt
the current of the gutter
3. : course of events : tenor , trend , tendency : flux of forces
in the deep emotional and creative currents that produced the Renaissance — G.C.Sellery
strong currents of public opinion
an adventure that changed the whole current of his life — Sherwood Anderson
4.
a. : electric current
b. : the intensity of an electric current
Synonyms: see flow , tendency