electrocute

/ɪˈlektrəkjuːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈlektrəkjuːt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈlek-trə-ˌkyüt/ (ame, mw)

electrocute — 動詞

  • electrocutepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • electrocuteshe / she / it
  • electrocutedpast simple
  • electrocuting-ing form

1. to make a person or animal die when an electric current goes through the body

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

電死

使人或動物因通電而死亡

to make a person or animal die when an electric current goes through the body

例句

Eve was electrocuted when the wet wire touched her shoulder.

濕電線碰到 Eve 的肩膀時，她被電死了。

passive: be electrocuted in an accident

A broken lamp electrocuted the hotel worker during the night shift.

那盞壞掉的燈在夜班時把旅館員工電死了。

同義詞
  • shock

    Usually means electricity hit someone, but not necessarily that they died.

  • fry

    Informal and vivid; often used in speech or headlines rather than neutral reporting.

文法句型

electrocute + object

be electrocuted

用法筆記

Usually used for fatal contact with wires, machines, or power lines. In everyday reporting, this sense often appears in the passive: be electrocuted.

常見錯誤

❌He was electrocuted, but he recovered in hospital.
✅He got an electric shock, but he recovered in hospital.
💡if someone is electrocuted, they die; use electric shock for a non-fatal injury.

2. to kill a convicted person as a legal punishment by using electricity

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

處電刑

以通電方式處決定罪的人

to kill a convicted person as a legal punishment by using electricity

例句

The state electrocuted the prisoner after the final appeal was denied.

州政府在最後一次上訴被駁回後，對那名囚犯處以電刑。

legal subject + electrocute + prisoner

At that time, the law allowed the state to electrocute convicted murderers.

當時法律允許州政府對已定罪的殺人犯處以電刑。

同義詞
  • execute

    General legal term for putting someone to death; it does not name the method.

  • put to death

    Formal phrase for carrying out a death sentence by any method.

文法句型

electrocute + convicted person

be electrocuted

用法筆記

Usually used in legal or historical discussion of capital punishment. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about accidental death from electricity.

常見錯誤

❌The judge electrocuted the prisoner yesterday.
✅The state electrocuted the prisoner yesterday.
💡this sense usually describes the execution itself, not the judge's personal action.