Definition

1. Noun:

   • A formal accusation of wrongdoing: A claim that someone has committed a crime or offense.
   • A price asked for goods or a service: The amount of money required as payment.
   • The responsibility of care or control: The duty of supervising someone or something.
   • An impetuous rush or attack: A forceful forward movement, especially in a military context.
   • The amount of electricity held in a battery or carried by a body: A quantity of electrical energy.
   • A quantity of explosive material: The amount of explosive used in a single blast.

2. Verb:

   • To demand (an amount) as a price: To ask for payment.
   • To formally accuse someone of a crime: To make an allegation of wrongdoing against someone.
   • To rush forward in attack: To move aggressively toward someone or something.
   • To entrust with a duty or responsibility: To give a task or role to someone.
   • To load or fill with energy or a substance: To put electricity into a battery or to fill a container.
   • To record a debt against an account: To note that a purchase is to be paid for later.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The police filed a charge of theft against the suspect.
  • There is a small charge for delivery.
  • She is in charge of the marketing department.
  • The knight led the charge against the enemy.
  • My phone battery has a full charge.

• Verb:

  • How much do you charge for a haircut?
  • He was charged with fraud.
  • The bull charged at the matador.
  • The committee was charged with investigating the issue.
  • I need to charge my laptop.
  • Please charge the expenses to my account.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in charge of": To have control over or responsibility for something.

  • She is in charge of organizing the event.

• "To take charge": To assume control or responsibility.

  • When the manager left, her assistant had to take charge.

• "A charge of": Used to specify the type of accusation or the substance loaded.

  • He faces a charge of assault.
  • The gun held a charge of black powder.

Variants and Related Words

• Charger (n): A device for charging a battery; historically, a horse ridden in battle.
  • I left my phone charger at home.
• Charged (adj): Filled with tension, emotion, or electricity.
  • The atmosphere in the room was charged.
• Recharge (v): To charge again, especially a battery.
  • I need to recharge my headphones.

Synonyms

• Noun (Accusation): Accusation, allegation, indictment.
• Noun (Price): Fee, cost, price, rate.
• Verb (Accuse): Accuse, indict, impeach.
• Verb (Rush): Rush, storm, attack.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Charge up: To fill with energy or enthusiasm; to recharge a battery.
  • The coach's speech charged the team up for the game.
  • Can you charge up my power bank?
• Charge with: To entrust someone with a task; to accuse someone of something.
  • She was charged with writing the report.
  • He was charged with reckless driving.

Related Idioms

• Free of charge: Without any cost.
  • The samples were given away free of charge.
• Bring a charge against someone: To officially accuse someone.
  • The victim decided to bring a charge against her attacker.
• Get a charge out of something: To get excitement or enjoyment from something. (Informal)
  • He really gets a charge out of watching old comedies.

Noun

1. a quantity of explosive to be set off at one time
   • this cartridge has a powder charge of 50 grains
2. heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield
3. an assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence
   • the newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving
4. a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something
   • the judge's charge to the jury
5. request for payment of a debt
   • they submitted their charges at the end of each month
6. the swift release of a store of affective force
   • they got a great bang out of it
   • what a boot!
   • he got a quick rush from injecting heroin
   • he does it for kicks
7. (psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object
   • Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge
8. financial liabilities (such as a tax)
   • the charges against the estate
9. a person committed to your care
   • the teacher led her charges across the street
10. a special assignment that is given to a person or group
    • a confidential mission to London
    • his charge was deliver a message
11. attention and management implying responsibility for safety
    • he is in the care of a bodyguard
12. the quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons
    • the battery needed a fresh charge
13. the price charged for some article or service
    • the admission charge
14. (criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense
    • he was arrested on a charge of larceny
15. an impetuous rush toward someone or something
    • the wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary
    • the battle began with a cavalry charge

Verb

1. saturate
   • The room was charged with tension and anxiety
2. energize a battery by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to discharge
   • I need to charge my car battery
3. cause formation of a net electrical charge in or on
   • charge a conductor
4. set or ask for a certain price
   • How much do you charge for lunch?
   • This fellow charges $100 for a massage
5. attribute responsibility to
   • We blamed the accident on her
   • The tragedy was charged to her inexperience
6. instruct or command with authority
   • The teacher charged the children to memorize the poem
7. instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence
8. impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to
   • He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend
9. direct into a position for use
   • point a gun
   • He charged his weapon at me
10. provide (a device) with something necessary
    • He loaded his gun carefully
    • load the camera
11. place a heraldic bearing on
    • charge all weapons, shields, and banners
12. cause to be agitated, excited, or roused
    • The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks
13. lie down on command, of hunting dogs
14. pay with a credit card; pay with plastic money; postpone payment by recording a purchase as a debt
    • Will you pay cash or charge the purchase?
15. give over to another for care or safekeeping
    • consign your baggage
16. cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution
    • After the second episode, she had to be committed
    • he was committed to prison
17. enter a certain amount as a charge
    • he charged me $15
18. fill or load to capacity
    • charge the wagon with hay
19. make an accusatory claim
    • The defense attorney charged that the jurors were biased
20. file a formal charge against
    • The suspect was charged with murdering his wife
21. assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to
    • He was appointed deputy manager
    • She was charged with supervising the creation of a concordance
22. move quickly and violently
    • The car tore down the street
    • He came charging into my office
23. demand payment
    • Will I get charged for this service?
    • We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights
24. blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against
    • he charged the director with indifference
25. to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
    • he saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork