electric arc

American  

noun

1. arc.

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electric arc Scientific  

1. An electric current, often strong, brief, and luminous, in which electrons jump across a gap. Electric arcs across specially designed electrodes can produce very high heats and bright light, and are used for such purposes as welding and illumination in spotlights. Unwanted arcs in electrical circuits can cause fires. Lightning is a case of an electric arc between one cloud and the earth or another cloud, as are sparks caused by discharges of static electricity.

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Etymology

Origin of electric arc

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Chief Executive Rajat Marwah said the company is encouraged by the early performance of its first electric arc furnace, which he said is operating continuously and meeting product quality specifications.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

That said, a shift to electric arc furnace production sets BlueScope’s business there “up for sustained success,” say Wilson and Reilly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

Steelmaking in the US is already greener than in many countries, thanks to the popularity of electric arc furnaces there.

From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025

Construction will commence on a new electric arc furnace at Port Talbot's Tata steel works, which is expected to be up and running by 2027 and reduce the site's carbon emissions by about 90%.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

For this reason the mantle heated by gas gives as bright a light as the carbon particles in the electric arc, although the latter are subjected to a much more intense heat.

From Marvels of Scientific Invention An Interesting Account in Non-technical Language of the Invention of Guns, Torpedoes, Submarine Mines, Up-to-date Smelting, Freezing, Colour Photography, and many other recent Discoveries of Science by Corbin, Thomas W.