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galvanize

[gal-vuh-nahyz]
verb (used with object), gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing.
  1. to stimulate by or as if by a galvanic current.
  2. Medicine/Medical. to stimulate or treat (muscles or nerves) with induced direct current (distinguished from faradize).
  3. to startle into sudden activity; stimulate.
  4. to coat (metal, especially iron or steel) with zinc.
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Also especially British, gal·va·nise.

Origin of galvanize

1795–1805; < French galvaniser, named after Luigi Galvani; see -ize
Related formsgal·va·ni·za·tion, noungal·va·niz·er, nounnon·gal·va·nized, adjectivepre·gal·va·nize, verb (used with object), pre·gal·va·nized, pre·gal·va·niz·ing.re·gal·va·ni·za·tion, nounre·gal·va·nize, verb (used with object), re·gal·va·nized, re·gal·va·niz·ing.un·gal·va·nized, adjective

Synonyms

3. rouse, stir, electrify, fire, spur, animate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for galvanised

Historical Examples

  • Every one jumps up, as if galvanised, at the first note of the rveille.

    Camps, Quarters and Casual Places

    Archibald Forbes

  • But through it all, she was quite aware that she had not galvanised him as yet.

    Is He Popenjoy?

    Anthony Trollope

  • As if galvanised into life, the old man turned gratefully to her.

    The Trail of '98

    Robert W. Service

  • This galvanised bucket we were using was, I took it, a temporary makeshift.

    They and I

    Jerome K. Jerome

  • Like a galvanised man he sprang on his legs and stood erect.

    Under the Waves

    R M Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for galvanised

galvanize

galvanise

verb (tr)
  1. to stimulate to action; excite; startle
  2. to cover (iron, steel, etc) with a protective zinc coating by dipping into molten zinc or by electrodeposition
  3. to stimulate by application of an electric current
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noun
  1. Caribbean galvanized iron, usually in the form of corrugated sheets as used in roofing
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Derived Formsgalvanization or galvanisation, noungalvanizer or galvaniser, 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

Word Origin and History for galvanised

galvanize

v.

1802, from French galvaniser, from galvanisme (see galvanism). Figurative sense of "excite, stimulate (as if by electricity)" first recorded 1853. Meaning "to coat with metal by means of galvanic electricity" (especially to plate iron with tin, but now typically to plate it with zinc) is from 1839.

He'll swear that in her dancing she cuts all others out,
Though like a Gal that's galvanized, she throws her legs about.
[Thomas Hood, "Love has not Eyes," 1845]

Related: Galvanized; galvanizing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper