Current \Cur"rent\, n. [Cf. F. courant. See Current, a. ]

1. A flowing or passing; onward motion. Hence: A body of fluid moving continuously in a certain direction; a stream; esp., the swiftest part of it; as, a current of water or of air; that which resembles a stream in motion; as, a current of electricity.

Two such silver currents, when they join, Do glorify the banks that bound them in. --Shak.

The surface of the ocean is furrowed by currents, whose direction . . . the navigator should know. --Nichol.

2. General course; ordinary procedure; progressive and connected movement; as, the current of time, of events, of opinion, etc.

Current meter, an instrument for measuring the velocity, force, etc., of currents.

Current mill, a mill driven by a current wheel.

Current wheel, a wheel dipping into the water and driven by the current of a stream or by the ebb and flow of the tide.

Syn: Stream; course. See Stream.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Current \Cur"rent\ (k?r"rent), a. [OE. currant, OF. curant, corant, p. pr. of curre, corre, F. courre, courir, to run, from L. currere; perh. akin to E. horse. Cf. Course, Concur, Courant, Coranto.]

1. Running or moving rapidly. [Archaic]

Like the current fire, that renneth Upon a cord. --Gower.

To chase a creature that was current then In these wild woods, the hart with golden horns. --Tennyson.

2. Now passing, as time; as, the current month.

3. Passing from person to person, or from hand to hand; circulating through the community; generally received; common; as, a current coin; a current report; current history.

That there was current money in Abraham's time is past doubt. --Arbuthnot.

Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current. --Shak.

His current value, which is less or more as men have occasion for him. --Grew.

4. Commonly estimated or acknowledged.

5. Fitted for general acceptance or circulation; authentic; passable.

O Buckingham, now do I play the touch To try if thou be current gold indeed. --Shak.

Account current. See under Account.

Current money, lawful money. --Abbott.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)