SKIP TO CONTENT

courant

Definitions of courant
  1. noun
    a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes)
    see moresee less
    types:
    courant maritime, courant sous-marin
    a current below the surface of a fluid
    torrent
    a violently fast stream of water (or other liquid)
    remous
    a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind resulting when the current of a fluid doubles back on itself
    tourbillon
    a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)
    type of:
    écoulement
    the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
  2. noun
    a flow of electricity through a conductor
    see moresee less
    type of:
    phénomène électrique
    a physical phenomenon involving electricity
  3. noun
    dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas
    synonyms: cours
    see moresee less
    type of:
    cours
    a connected series of events or actions or developments
  4. noun
    any uninterrupted stream or discharge
    synonyms: flux
    see moresee less
    types:
    sillage
    the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller
    remplissage
    flow into something (as a container)
    affluence
    the process of flowing in
    remplacement
    filling again by supplying what has been used up
    type of:
    processus naturel, radioactivité
    a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
  5. noun
    the act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression
    see moresee less
    types:
    crue, inondation
    a large flow
    type of:
    déplacement, mouvement
    the act of changing location from one place to another
  6. noun
    energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor
    synonyms: électricité
    see moresee less
    types:
    courant alternatif
    an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally
    courant continu
    an electric current that flows in one direction steadily
    type of:
    énergie
    (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
  7. noun
    the flow of air
    see moresee less
    type of:
    écoulement
    the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘courant'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family