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| charge [ chaarj ] |
verb (past and past participle charged, present participle charg·ing, 3rd person present singular charg·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb ask money for something: to ask somebody for an amount of money as a price or fee
  The cafeteria here charges too much for terrible food.
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2. transitive verb hold somebody financially liable: to hold a person or organization financially liable for something
That antique store charges customers for breakage.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb arrange deferred payment: to allow, and enter a record of, a deferred payment for something
Charge it to my account.
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4. transitive verb criminal law accuse somebody of crime: to accuse somebody formally of having committed a crime
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5. transitive verb criticize somebody: to criticize somebody for doing something wrong
Her parents unfairly charged her with laziness.
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6. transitive verb order somebody to do something: to order or instruct somebody formally to do something
The judge charged the jury to consider all the facts.
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7. transitive and intransitive verb attack in rush: to attack somebody or something by rushing forward, especially in a battle
Police in riot gear charged the lines of demonstrators.
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8. transitive and intransitive verb electricity restore power in battery: to restore the power in a battery by connecting it to a supply of electricity
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9. transitive verb pervade something: to give an atmosphere of intense interest, excitement, or other strong emotion to a place
(
usually passive
)
The concert hall was charged with anticipation.
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10. transitive verb load or fill something: to load or fill something, e.g. a gun with explosive
(
formal
)
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11. transitive verb heraldry put heraldic device on something: to put a heraldic device on something such as a shield or banner
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noun (plural charg·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. price or fee asked: the amount of money asked for something that is for sale or available as a result of payment
an admission charge
extra charges for tax and insurance
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2. responsibility: the responsibility or duty of looking after somebody or something
He took on the children's welfare as an extra charge.
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3. somebody being taken care of: somebody, especially a child or a member of a minister's congregation, for whom somebody else is responsible
The nanny was keeping a close watch on her little charges.
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4. criminal law accusation: an accusation of wrongdoing, especially an official statement accusing somebody of committing a crime
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5. military rush to attack: a rush forward to attack, especially in a battle, or the signal for this
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6. electricity power in battery: the power stored in a battery
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7. physics electric property of matter: a fundamental characteristic of matter, responsible for all electric and electromotive forces, expressed in two forms known as positive and negative
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8. physics excess or lack of electrons: a quantity of electricity caused by an excess or lack of electrons
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9. arms explosive for detonation: the amount of explosive used to detonate a shell or cartridge
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10. enough to fill container: the amount required to fill a container or to make a mechanism work
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11. instruction: a formal order or instruction to do something, e.g. a judge's instructions to a jury
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12. sudden burst of excitement: a sudden burst of excitement or interest
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13. heraldry heraldic design: a design or image used as part of a coat of arms
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| [12th century. Via French charger "load, charge" < late Latin car(ri)care< Latin carrus "carriage"] |
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in charge in command or in a position of responsibility
Who's in charge round here?
She was in charge of an entire department.
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take charge (of) to take over control or responsibility for somebody or something
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