electric arc

noun

1. arc ( def 2 ).

electric arc

1. An electric current, often strong, brief, and luminous, in which electrons jump across a gap. Electric arcs across specially designed electrodes can produce very high heats and bright light, and are used for such purposes as welding and illumination in spotlights. Unwanted arcs in electrical circuits can cause fires. Lightning is a case of an electric arc between one cloud and the earth or another cloud, as are sparks caused by discharges of static electricity.

Word History and Origins

Origin of electric arc¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

When a new electric arc furnace is completed, with £500m of taxpayers' cash, and production returns, it will be without coal, iron ore or limestone.

From BBC

An environmentally-friendly "electric arc" furnace at Port Talbot is to be built and government funding guaranteed so steelmaking will not be put on the scrapheap.

From BBC

The electric arc furnace will melt scrap steel or iron to produce steel.

From BBC

Blast furnaces use coke in the process of creating "virgin" steel but the process generates carbon dioxide while electric arc furnaces are mostly used to melt down and repurpose scrap steel.

From BBC

Ministers are preparing to announce that an agreement has been reached to give Tata Steel a grant of £500m towards the cost of its electric arc furnace.

From BBC