Engineering English
Current
Electrical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The rate at which electric charge flows past a given point in a conductor, measured in amperes. Its magnitude depends on the applied potential difference and the opposition of the circuit.
Example in context
“A clamp meter showed that the current drawn by the pump exceeded the nameplate rating whenever the discharge valve was fully open.”
“Pens ampermetre, basma vanası tam açıkken pompanın çektiği akımın etiket değerini aştığını gösterdi.”
Where engineers use it
Engineers evaluate current when sizing cables, breakers, and fuses, and when assessing heating in equipment. Load studies, protection coordination, and motor troubleshooting all begin with knowing how much current a branch actually carries.
Synonyms: electric current, amperage
Practice: can you use “Current” at work?
A trainee must select a fuse for a lighting branch feeding twelve fixtures. Describe how to determine the expected current and justify the rating chosen.
Show a model answer
“We need to know the current before choosing a cable size.”
“Current” in 21 languages
| English | Current |
|---|---|
| Turkish | akım |
| French | courant |
| German | Strom |
| Spanish | corriente |
| Chinese | 电流 |
| Arabic | التيار الكهربائي |
| Portuguese | corrente |
| Russian | ток |
| Japanese | 電流 |
| Italian | corrente |
| Vietnamese | dòng điện |
| Hindi | विद्युत धारा |
| Thai | กระแสไฟฟ้า |
| Indonesian | arus listrik |
| Korean | 전류 |
| Bengali | তড়িৎ প্রবাহ |
| Dutch | stroom |
| Swedish | ström |
| Finnish | virta |
| Ukrainian | струм |
Frequently asked questions
What does Current mean in engineering?
The rate at which electric charge flows past a given point in a conductor, measured in amperes. Its magnitude depends on the applied potential difference and the opposition of the circuit. In Electrical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Current?
Current is pronounced /ˈkɜːrənt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Current used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “A clamp meter showed that the current drawn by the pump exceeded the nameplate rating whenever the discharge valve was fully open.”
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