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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electric arc

While blast furnaces use coal-based fuel and are a major source of industrial CO2 emissions, electric arc furnaces melt recycled steel, resulting in lower carbon emissions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

The new electric arc furnace was hoped to be up and running by the end of 2027, replacing the traditional blast furnaces which closed two years ago with the loss of 2,000 jobs.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

Tata Steel is working with the National Grid to upgrade electrical infrastructure and support the new electric arc furnace.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

The loss was driven by the tariff costs and lower shipments of steel, as well as the company’s accelerated transition toward making its steel using electric arc furnaces, Algoma said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

But this is impossible with the electric arc.

From The Story of Great Inventions by Elmer Ellsworth Burns

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