electrocute

[ ih-lek-truh-kyoot ]

verb (used with object)

, e·lec·tro·cut·ed, e·lec·tro·cut·ing.

1. to kill by electricity.
2. to execute (a criminal) by electricity, as in an electric chair.
3. to pass an electric current through; shock:

   The toaster burned my toast and then electrocuted me when I tried to unplug it.

electrocute

/ ɪˈlɛktrəˌkjuːt /

verb

1. to kill as a result of an electric shock
2. to execute in the electric chair

Derived Forms

• eˌlectroˈcution, noun

Other Words From

• e·lec·tro·cu·tion [ih-lek-tr, uh, -, kyoo, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrocute¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1885–90; electro- + (exe)cute

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrocute¹

C19: from electro- + (exe)cute

Example Sentences

Political implications: Social Security is so popular among voters that it’s most often compared to the third rail of a subway track — the one that gets you electrocuted if you touch it.

From Los Angeles Times

Abrams noted that Kubrick was inspired in part by Stanley Milgram, whose famous experiments based on the Holocaust determined whether people could be manipulated into electrocuting people to death through blind obedience to authority.

From Salon

“They would tie me to a chair and rotate it very fast. Often, they threatened to electrocute me. They asked why I was criticising Ms Hasina,” Mr Chakma says.

From BBC

“We were like, ‘Wait, not only did you solve something with an exact perfect rhyme, but it means we don’t have to electrocute babies and we can make it into a murder trial?’”

From Los Angeles Times

In neighbouring India, Sumit Gupta, a senior official in the West Bengal state government, confirmed the deaths of at least six civilians, including three who had been electrocuted.

From BBC