I. ˈchärj noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from charger
Date: 13th century
1.
a. obsolete : a material load or weight
b. : a figure borne on a heraldic field
2.
a. : the quantity that an apparatus is intended to receive and fitted to hold
b. : the quantity of explosive used in a single discharge
c. : a store or accumulation of impelling force
the deeply emotional charge of the drama
d. : a definite quantity of electricity ; especially : an excess or deficiency of electrons in a body
e. : thrill , kick
got a charge out of the game
3.
a. : obligation , requirement
b. : management , supervision
has charge of the home office
c. : the ecclesiastical jurisdiction (as a parish) committed to a clergyman
d. : a person or thing committed to the care of another
4.
a. : instruction , command
b. : instruction in points of law given by a court to a jury
5.
a. : expense , cost
gave the banquet at his own charge
b. : the price demanded for something
no admission charge
c. : a debit to an account
the purchase was a charge
d. : the record of a loan (as of a book from a library)
e. British : an interest in property granted as security for a loan
6.
a. : a formal assertion of illegality
a charge of murder
b. : a statement of complaint or hostile criticism
denied the charge s of nepotism that were leveled against him
7.
a.
(1) : a violent rush forward (as to attack)
the charge of the brigade
(2) : the signal for attack
sound the charge
b. : a usually illegal rush into an opponent in various sports (as basketball)
•
- in charge
II. verb
( charged ; charg·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French charger, from Late Latin carricare, from Latin carrus wheeled vehicle — more at car
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to lay or put a load on or in : load
b.
(1) : to place a charge (as of powder) in
(2) : to load or fill to capacity
c.
(1) : to restore the active materials in (a storage battery) by the passage of a direct current through in the opposite direction to that of discharge
(2) : to give an electric charge to
charge a capacitor
d.
(1) : to assume as a heraldic bearing
(2) : to place a heraldic bearing on
e. : to fill or furnish fully
the music is charged with excitement
f. : electrify 2
the crowd was charged by her performance
2.
a. : to impose a task or responsibility on
charge him with the job of finding a new meeting place
b. : to command, instruct, or exhort with authority
I charge you not to go
c. of a judge : to give a charge to (a jury)
3.
a. : to make an assertion against especially by ascribing guilt or blame
charge s him with armed robbery
they were charged as being instigators
b. : to place the guilt or blame for
charge her failure to negligence
c. : to assert as an accusation
charge s that he distorted the data
4.
a. : to bring (a weapon) into position for attack : level
charge a lance
b. : to rush against : attack ; also : to rush into (an opponent) usually illegally in various sports
5.
a.
(1) : to impose a financial burden on
charge his estate with debts incurred
(2) : to impose or record as financial obligation
charge debts to an estate
b.
(1) : to fix or ask as fee or payment
charge s $50 for an office visit
(2) : to ask payment of (a person)
charge a client for expenses
c. : to record (an item) as an expense, debt, obligation, or liability
charged a new sofa
intransitive verb
1. : to rush forward in or as if in assault : attack ; also : to charge an opponent in sports
2. : to ask or set a price
do you charge for this service?
3. : to charge an item to an account
charge now, pay later
Synonyms: see command