electrocution
See also: électrocution
English
editEtymology
editFrom electrocute + -ion.
Pronunciation
edit- IPA(key): /ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
editelectrocution (countable and uncountable, plural electrocutions)
- The accidental death or suicide by electric shock.
- Deliberate execution by electric shock, usually involving an electric chair.
- (informal) A severe electric shock, whether fatal or not.
Usage notes
editFormally, the words electrocution and electrocute imply fatality (and originally referred specifically to judicial execution, although the latter distinction has fallen out of use). Informally, however, these terms are sometimes used to refer to serious but nonfatal electric shocks. Preferred usage is to normally reserve electrocution for fatal electric shocks, and to use shock or electric shock for nonfatal ones.
Translations
editaccidental death or suicide by electric shock
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deliberate execution by electric shock
|
a severe electric shock
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See also
editCategories:
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sekʷ- (follow)
- English terms suffixed with -ion
- English 5-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- English informal terms
- en:Electricity
- en:Capital punishment
- en:Death
- English hybridisms