electrocute
/ɪˈlɛktɹəkjuːt/ verb
Forms electrocutes electrocuting electrocuted
- verb (transitive) To kill by electric shock. “Her hairdryer fell into the tub while she was bathing, and she was electrocuted.”
- verb (transitive) To execute by electric shock, often by means of an electric chair. “The executioner threw the switch on Old Sparky, and the condemned prisoner was electrocuted for his crimes.”
- verb (transitive, proscribed, informal) To inflict a severe electric shock (not necessarily fatal) upon.
Synonyms
Etymology
Blend of electro- + execute, after electrocution.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To execute or put to death by electricity.
Etymology [Electro- + cute in execute.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “electrocute”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details