galvanize
Pronunciation: /ˈɡælvənaɪ̯z/
The English word “galvanize” has 5 meanings listed here.
verb
- To coat with a layer of metal by electrochemical means.
- To coat with a layer of zinc (for rust resistance) by electrochemical means.
- To shock or stimulate into sudden activity, as if by electric shock.
- To electrify, as by galvanism.
- To switch sides between Union and Confederate in the American Civil War.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from French galvaniser. By surface analysis, galvano- + -ize. Named after Italian physiologist Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1737–1798).
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.