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Electrocuted: meaning, definitions and examples

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electrocuted

 

[ ɪˈlɛktrəˌkjutɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

extreme injury

Electrocuted is the past tense of the verb 'electrocute,' which means to injure or kill someone by electric shock. This typically happens when a person comes into contact with a live electrical current, resulting in severe bodily harm or even death. The severity of the electrocution can depend on various factors, such as the voltage of the electrical source and the duration of contact. It is a term often used in safety regulations and reports of electrical accidents.

Synonyms

killed by electricity, shocked, zapped

Examples of usage

  • He was electrocuted while fixing the wiring.
  • The worker was electrocuted when the power line fell.
  • She narrowly escaped being electrocuted during the storm.

Translations

Translations of the word "electrocuted" in other languages:

🇵🇹 eletrocutado

🇮🇳 करंट लगना

🇩🇪 elektrocutiert

🇮🇩 terelektrik

🇺🇦 електричний удар

🇵🇱 porażony prądem

🇯🇵 感電した

🇫🇷 électrocuté

🇪🇸 electrocutado

🇹🇷 elektrik çarpmış

🇰🇷 감전된

🇸🇦 مكشوف بالكهرباء

🇨🇿 elektrocutovaný

🇸🇰 elektrocutovaný

🇨🇳 触电的

🇸🇮 električen udar

🇮🇸 rafmagnsmeðferð

🇰🇿 электр тогынан зақымдалған

🇬🇪 ელექტროენერგიით დაზიანებული

🇦🇿 elektrik cərəyanı ilə zədələnmiş

🇲🇽 electrocutado

Etymology

The term 'electrocute' is a blend of the prefix 'electro-' referring to electricity, and the word 'execute.' It first appeared in the early 20th century, particularly with the advent of electrical chair executions in the United States. The word was created to describe the act of causing a death via electric shock – a method that raised significant ethical concerns. The root 'electro-' comes from the Greek word 'ēlektron,' meaning amber, which is associated with static electricity. The usage of 'electrocute' evolved over time from a legal and penal context to a broader application in various electrical accident reports, highlighting the dangers of electricity in everyday life. Today, it encompasses both fatal and non-fatal electric shocks, emphasizing the serious nature of electrical safety.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,881 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.