transitive verb charged, charging charg′·ing

1. Obsolete to put a load on or in to load or fill to capacity or with the usual amount of required material to load (a firearm, cannon, etc.) to saturate (one substance) with another air charged with steam to add carbon dioxide to (water, etc.)☆ to add an electrical charge to (a battery, etc.)
2. to load a burden on; give as a task, duty, etc. to; make responsible for a nurse was charged with the care of the child to give instructions to or command authoritatively to charge a jury to accuse of wrongdoing; censure he charged her with negligence
   1. to put liability on (a person)
   2. to make liable for (an error, etc.)
   to ask as a price or fee to charge a dollar for alterations
   1. to record as a debt against a person's name or account to charge a purchase
   2. ☆ to make a record of (something borrowed) to charge a library book
   3. to pay for by using credit, usually by presenting a credit card
3. to bear down on or set upon with force; attack vigorously to bring (a gun or other weapon) to bear on; level; directHeraldry to place a bearing on

Etymology: ME chargen < OFr chargier< VL carricare, to load a wagon, cart < L carrus, wagon, car

intransitive verb

1. to crouch or squat when a command is given: said of dogs
2. to ask payment (for) to charge for a service
3. to attack vigorously or move forward as if attacking

noun

1. a load or burden the maximum or necessary quantity, as of fuel, that a container or apparatus is built to hold; also, the actual quantity held
   1. the amount of electrical energy stored in a battery, capacitor, etc.
   2. the departure from electrical neutrality at a point, or in a region, as by the accumulation, or deficit, of electrical particles: more electrons than normal produce a negative charge; fewer, a positive charge
   a cartridge or shell, or the amount of gunpowder needed to discharge a firearm or set off an explosive device☆ Slang pleasurable excitement; thrill
2. responsibility or duty (of) to take charge of finances care, custody, or supervision (of) a person or thing entrusted to someone's care instruction or command, esp. instruction in points of law given by a judge to a jury accusation; indictment charges of cruelty
3. the cost or price of an article, service, etc. a liability to pay money; debt; expense
   1. ☆ charge account
   2. a debit entered in an account
4. an attack with great force and speed; onslaught; onset the signal for thisHeraldry a bearing