charge

charge / chärj/ • v. [tr.] 1. demand (an amount) as a price from someone for a service rendered or goods supplied: the restaurant charged $15 for dinner [intr.] museums should charge for admission. ∎  (charge something to) record the cost of something as an amount payable by (someone) or on (an account): they charge the calls to their credit-card accounts. 2. accuse (someone) of something, esp. an offense under law: they were charged with assault. ∎  make an accusation or assertion that: opponents charged that below-cost pricing would reduce safety. ∎  Law accuse someone of (an offense). 3. entrust (someone) with a task as a duty or responsibility: the committee was charged with reshaping the educational system. 4. store electrical energy in (a battery or battery-operated device). ∎  [intr.] (of a battery or battery-operated device) receive and store electrical energy. ∎ technical or formal load or fill (a container, gun, etc.) to the full or proper extent. ∎  (usu. be charged with) fig. fill or pervade (something) with a quality or emotion: the air was charged with menace. 5. [intr.] rush forward in attack. ∎  [tr.] rush aggressively toward (someone or something) in attack. ∎  move quickly and with impetus: Henry charged up the staircase. 6. (usu. be charged with) Heraldry place a heraldic bearing on: a pennant argent, charged with a cross gules. • n. 1. a price asked for goods or services: an admission charge. ∎  a financial liability or commitment: an asset of $550,000 should have been taken as a charge on earnings. 2. an accusation, typically one formally made against a prisoner brought to trial: a charge of attempted murder. 3. the responsibility of taking care or control of someone or something: the people in her charge. ∎  a person or thing entrusted to the care of someone: the babysitter watched over her charges. ∎ dated a responsibility or onerous duty assigned to someone. ∎  an official instruction, esp. one given by a judge to a jury regarding points of law. 4. the property of matter that is responsible for electrical phenomena, existing in a positive or negative form. ∎  the quantity of this carried by a body. ∎  energy stored chemically for conversion into electricity. ∎  the process of storing electrical energy in a battery. ∎  [in sing.] inf. a thrill: I get a real charge out of working hard. 5. a quantity of explosive to be detonated, typically in order to fire a gun or similar weapon. 6. a headlong rush forward, typically one made by attacking soldiers in battle: a cavalry charge. ∎  the signal or call for such a rush. 7. Heraldry a device or bearing placed on a shield or crest. PHRASES: free of charge without any payment due. in charge in control or with overall responsibility. press (or prefer) charges accuse someone formally of a crime so that they can be brought to trial. take charge assume control or responsibility.DERIVATIVES: charge·a·ble adj.