electrocute

[ ih-lek-truh-kyoot ]
See synonyms for: electrocuteelectrocution on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),e·lec·tro·cut·ed, e·lec·tro·cut·ing.
  1. to kill by electricity.

  2. to execute (a criminal) by electricity, as in an electric chair.

  1. to pass an electric current through; shock: The toaster burned my toast and then electrocuted me when I tried to unplug it.

Origin of electrocute

1
An Americanism first recorded in 1885–90; electro- + (exe)cute

Other words from electrocute

  • e·lec·tro·cu·tion [ih-lek-truh-kyoo-shuhn], /ɪˌlɛk trəˈkyu ʃən/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use electrocute in a sentence

  • Ahmad claims that four plainclothes officers cuffed him to a chair, jammed open his mouth, and electrocuted his gums.

    Assad’s House of Torture | Anna Therese Day | October 14, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Had the power current not been cut off, I think The Brain would somehow have electrocuted me on the spot.

    The Brain | Alexander Blade
  • A verbal confession to save himself from being electrocuted was one thing, to put it in black and white was quite another.

    The Man from the Bitter Roots | Caroline Lockhart
  • "Electrocuted by his own machine rather than face disgrace and disbarment," cut in Craig.

    The Social Gangster | Arthur B. Reeve
  • "Made me feel as if I was bracing up a chap that was going to be electrocuted," he thought, feeling sickish again.

    T. Tembarom | Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • He had little doubt but that Smaltz was dead—electrocuted—roasted.

    The Man from the Bitter Roots | Caroline Lockhart

British Dictionary definitions for electrocute

electrocute

/ (ɪˈlɛktrəˌkjuːt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to kill as a result of an electric shock

  2. US to execute in the electric chair

Origin of electrocute

1
C19: from electro- + (exe)cute

Derived forms of electrocute

  • electrocution, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012