electric arc

American  

noun

1. arc.

---

electric arc Scientific  

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of electric arc

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Chief Executive Rajat Marwah said the company is encouraged by the early performance of its first electric arc furnace, which he said is operating continuously and meeting product quality specifications.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

The loss was driven by the tariff costs and lower shipments of steel, as well as the company’s accelerated transition toward making its steel using electric arc furnaces, Algoma said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

While the old blast furnace structures are still standing, the area where the electric arc furnace will stand is being cleared ahead of construction.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

Talks on scrapping tariffs on UK steel are on hold, with US officials raising concerns over Tata's shift from blast furnaces to new electric arc furnaces, due in 2027.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2025

There is no question whatever as to which of the available sources of light most perfectly combines all the above if it is available, viz. the electric arc.

From Optical Projection Part 1: Projection of Lantern Slides by Wright, Lewis