charging

transitive verb charged, charging

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

Origin: 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