- a continuous electric current that periodically reverses direction, usually sinusoidallyAbbreviation: AC
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ˈal•ter•nat•ing ˈcur•rent, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Electricityan electric current that reverses direction at regular periods of time.Abbr.: AC Compare direct current.
al′ternating cur′rent,
- Electricityan electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals, having a magnitude that varies continuously in sinusoidal manner. Abbr.: ac Cf. direct current.
- 1830–40
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
alternating current n
'alternating current' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
AC
- AC/DC
- alternator
- commutate
- converter
- diode
- direct current
- dynamotor
- faradic
- impedance
- inverter
- oscillation
- oscillator
- power
- power pack
- reactance
- rectify
- rectifier
- resonance
- sine wave
- synchronous machine
- synchronous motor
- transform
- transformer
- universal motor
- vibrate
- admittance
- alternation
- amplitude
- angle of lag
- angle of lead
- bias
- blocking capacitor
- bypass capacitor
- capacitive reactance
- choke coil
- conductance
- detector
- effective current
- effective resistance
- electrical degree
- electroluminescence
- full-wave rectifier
- half-wave rectifier
- induction coil
- induction motor
- inductive reactance
- inversion
- litz wire
- magnetic amplifier
