galvanize
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From French galvaniser, from galvanisme, named after Italian physiologist Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1737–1798). By surface analysis, galvano- -ize.
Pronunciation
[edit]Verb
[edit]galvanize (third-person singular simple present galvanizes, present participle galvanizing, simple past and past participle galvanized) (transitive)
- (chemistry) To coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means.
- Synonyms: electroplate, (rare) zinc
- To coat with rust-resistant zinc.
- Synonyms: electrogalvanize, (rare) zinc
- to galvanize steel
- (figurative) To shock or stimulate into sudden activity, as if by electric shock.
- Synonyms: animate, electrify, startle, urge; see also Thesaurus:thrill, Thesaurus:incite
- The girl’s picture helped galvanize public opinion against the administration’s policy.
- Republicans are hoping a proposed gas-tax repeal will galvanize their voters.
- 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Angara: The Resistance Codex entry:
- The arrival of the kett stunned and then divided the angara. As described by Jaal, infighting was used as a means of conquest by the kett, but the presence of a common enemy eventually galvanized the angara to work together. The various resistance groups merged into the organized Angaran Resistance roughly five years ago under Evfra de Tershaav's command, supported by prominent families and determined to stop their kett oppressors.
- (archaic) To electrify, as by galvanism.
- Synonyms: electricalize, electricize, electrize
- 1835, Thomas Babington Macaulay, History (essay in the Edinburgh Review)
- The agitations resembled the grinnings and writhings of a galvanized corpse, not the struggles of an athletic man.
- (historical, US) To switch sides between Union and Confederate in the American Civil War.
- 1998, Tony Horwitz, Confederates in the Attic, 1st Vintage Departures edition, Vintage Books, →ISBN, page 10:
- Reenactors called this “galvanizing,” the Civil War term for soldiers who switched sides during the conflict.
Usage notes
[edit]Galvanism and galvanization refer to two entirely distinct processes both named for Galvani; both processes have taken the verb "to galvanize" which can thus mean either "to coat with zinc" or "to electrify muscle tissue".
Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]to coat with rust-resistant zinc
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to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means
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to shock or stimulate into sudden activity
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Portuguese
[edit]Verb
[edit]galvanize
- inflection of galvanizar:
Turkish
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Ottoman Turkish غالوانیزه (galvanize), from French galvanisé, past participle of galvaniser.
Pronunciation
[edit]Adjective
[edit]galvanize
- galvanized (coated with zinc)
- Synonym: galvanizli
Related terms
[edit]Categories:
- English terms borrowed from French
- English terms derived from French
- English eponyms
- English terms prefixed with galvano-
- English terms suffixed with -ize
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- en:Chemistry
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- English terms with archaic senses
- English terms with historical senses
- American English
- en:American Civil War
- Portuguese non-lemma forms
- Portuguese verb forms
- Turkish terms inherited from Ottoman Turkish
- Turkish terms derived from Ottoman Turkish
- Turkish terms derived from French
- Turkish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Turkish lemmas
- Turkish adjectives