Current \Cur"rent\, n. [Cf. F. courant. See {Current}, a. ]
   
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   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.
      
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            Two such silver currents, when they join,
            Do glorify the banks that bound them in. --Shak.
      
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            The surface of the ocean is furrowed by currents,
            whose direction . . . the navigator should know.
                                                  --Nichol.
      
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   2. General course; ordinary procedure; progressive and
      connected movement; as, the current of time, of events, of
      opinion, etc.
      
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   {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}.
        
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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]
      
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            Like the current fire, that renneth
            Upon a cord.                          --Gower.
      
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            To chase a creature that was current then
            In these wild woods, the hart with golden horns.
                                                  --Tennyson.
      
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   2. Now passing, as time; as, the current month.
      
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   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.
      
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            That there was current money in Abraham's time is
            past doubt.                           --Arbuthnot.
      
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            Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current.
                                                  --Shak.
      
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            His current value, which is less or more as men have
            occasion for him.                     --Grew.
      
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   4. Commonly estimated or acknowledged.
      
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   5. Fitted for general acceptance or circulation; authentic;
      passable.
      
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            O Buckingham, now do I play the touch
            To try if thou be current gold indeed. --Shak.
      
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   {Account current}. See under {Account}.

   {Current money}, lawful money. --Abbott.
      
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