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charley horse
of how strong an electrical force can be between two Parti-CLES with this property 10 [C+to-v] fml an order; command:
The old servant fulfilled his master's charge to care for the children.
**charge-a-ble** /'t∫ɑ:dʒəbəl||-ɑ:r-/ adj 1 [F(to)] (of costs) that can or must be paid by someone:
These debts are chargeable to me/my account. 2 [with] that can be charged, blamed, or held responsible:
a chargeable offence
**charge ac,count** n AmE for CREDIT ACCOUNT
**charge-cap** v [T] → see CAP
**charge card** n a small especially plastic card, usually provided by a particular shop, which allows one to obtain goods there, the cost being charged to your account and paid later:
a Harrods charge card → compare CHEQUE CARD, CREDIT CARD, DEBIT CARD
**charged** /tʃɑ:dʒd||tʃɑ:rdʒd/ adj causing strong feelings or much argument:
Whether changes should be made in the voting system is a highly charged political question. | an emotionally charged atmosphere
**char-gé d'af-faires** /ˌ∫ɑrʒeɪ dæˈfeə||ˌ∫ɑ:r-/ n pl **chargés d'affaires** (same pronunciation) Fr an official who acts as a rep-resentative of his/her government during the absence of the AMBASSADOR or in a country to which no AMBASSADOR has been appointed
**charge hand** n BrE a worker whose position is just below that of a FOREMAN
**charge nurse** n BrE a nurse in charge of a hospital ward, especially when a man → compare SISTER
**Charge of the 'Light Bri,gade, the** an unsuccessful attack made by the British CAVALRY (=soldiers riding horses) during the CRIMEAN WAR. Many British soldiers were killed because they were ordered to ride into a valley which was full of Russian soldiers with heavy guns. TENNYSON describes this battle in his poem *The Charge of the Light Brigade*, which has many well-known lines, including:
*Half a league, half a league,*
*Half a league onward.*
*All in the valley of death*
*Rode the six hundred.*
**charger¹** /'t∫ɑ:dər ||-ɑ:r-/ n old use or lit a soldier's horse
**charger²** n old use a large flat plate for carrying and serving food
**charge sheet** n a record kept in a police station of charges made and people to be tried in court
**char-ing Cross** /ˈtʃærɪŋ 'krɒs||-'krɔ:s/ one of the main railway stations in London, which has trains going to southern England
**Charing Cross 'Road** a street in central London, famous for its bookshops
**har-i-ot** /'tʃærɪət/ n a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle with no seats, used in ancient times in battles and races
**har-i-o-teer** /ˌtʃærɪə'tɪə/ n the driver of a chariot
**ha-ris-ma** /kə'rɪzmə/ n 1 [U] the strong personal charm or power to attract that makes a person able to have great influence over people or win their admiration; MAGNETISM:
He could never be a film star; he's got no charisma. | a political leader of great charisma 2 [C] tech a power, for example of curing diseases, given to a person by the favour of God
→ **-tic** /kəˈrɪzˈmætk/ adj:
a charismatic leader
**haris'matic ,movement, the** n (often *cap.*) groups of worshippers within the Christian church who give particu-lar importance to praying as a group and to speaking by the direct influence of God
**har-i-ta-ble** /'tʃærɪtəbəl/ adj 1 kind and generous, espe-cially in giving help to the poor 2 kind and sympathetic in judging others:
I know he made a mistake, but let's be chari-table - he was tired at the time. | Even on the most charitable analysis, it has not been a great success so far. → opposite UNCHARITABLE 3 [A no comp.] concerned with giving help to the poor:
a charitable institution | charitable donations
→ **-bly** adv
**har-i-ty** /'tʃærɪti/ n 1 [U] (money or help given because of) kindness and generosity towards people who are poor, sick, in difficulties etc:
She gave the old woman some shoes out of (=because of) charity. | The victims of the disaster lived on charity until they could make new lives for themselves. | a charity performance given by international entertainers to raise money for famine relief | They make regular donations to charity. 2 [C] an organization that helps people who are poor, sick, in difficulties etc. **A registered charity** is allowed to raise money without paying taxes. Typical charities to which people give money are those which help blind people, sick children, or people in the Third World:
a housing charity | The flood victims received money and clothes from several charities. | The Red Cross is an international charity. | *a charity school* (=one where poor children used to be taught free) 3 [U] sympathy and kindness shown when judging others:
They showed little charity towards their former leader after his election defeat. 4 **charity begins at home** saying you must give help to or take care of your own family, people of your own country etc before other people
**'charity card** n 1 a Christmas card sold to raise money for a charity 2 also **affinity card** — a type of CREDIT CARD given out by a bank or BUILDING SOCIETY. Every time the card is used, the bank or building society gives a small sum of money to a particular charity. → compare CHEQUE CARD
C
**'Charity Com,mission, the** a British organization that keeps records of any organization that has been officially recognized as a CHARITY and controls the way that charities are operated
**'charity ,shop** n a shop which sells especially SECOND-HAND goods to raise money for a charity:
He gave his walking boots to the local charity shop.
**char-la-dy** /'tʃɑ:,leɪdɪ||'tʃɑ:r-/ n a CHARWOMAN
**char-la-tan** /'∫ɑ:lətən||'∫ɑ:r-/ n a person who deceives oth-ers by falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill, especially in medicine:
He's not a doctor, he's a charlatan; he knows nothing about medicine. → compare QUACK
**Char-le-magne** /'∫ɑ:ləmæɪn||'∫ɑ:r-/ (742-814) the King of the Franks who gained control of most of western Europe in 800 by uniting its Christian countries. The Pope gave him the title of 'Holy Roman Emperor'. Charlemagne had a great influence on European CIVILIZATION, by establishing a new legal system and encouraging art, literature, and education.
**Charles, Prince** /tʃɑ:lz||tʃɑ:rlz/ (1948-) the first son of the British queen, Elizabeth II, who is expected to become the next British king. His official royal title is the Prince of Wales. Charles married Diana Spencer in 1981 and they had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, but they got a DIVORCE in 1996. Charles is known for his interest in ARCHITECTURE (=the designing of buildings) and the envir-onment, and his speeches on these subjects have caused a lot of discussion and disagreement. → see also DIANA, PARKER-BOWLES
**Charles, Ray** (1930-2004) a US singer, songwriter, and piano player, who was blind, and who was most successful during the 1950s and 1960s. His famous songs include *Georgia* (1960) and *I Can't Stop Loving You* (1962). He was known for his emotional style of singing and for his influence on SOUL MUSIC.
**Charles de Gaulle Air-port** /ˌtʃɑ:lz də gəʊl 'eəpɔ:t||ˌtʃɑ:rlz də gɔ:l 'erpɔ:rt/ also **Charles de 'Gaulle** the main Paris airport, named after Charles DE GAULLE
**Charles I, King** /ˌtʃɑ:lz ðə 'fɜ:st||ˌtʃɑ:rlz ðə 'fɜ:rst/ (1600-49) the king of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1625 to 1649. He often disagreed with Parliament and made many unpopular political decisions, and so helped to cause the English CIVIL WAR. As a result he was executed (EXECUTE) in 1649.
**Charles II, King** /ˌtʃɑ:lz ðə 'sekənd||ˌtʃɑ:rlz-/ (1630-85) the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland who was the son of Charles I. He officially became king after his father's death in 1649, but he did not return to England to rule until the end of the English CIVIL WAR in 1660. He is sometimes called 'the Merry Monarch' → see also RESTORATION
**Charles-ton¹** /'tʃɑ:lstən||'tʃɑ:rl-/ 1 a city and port in southeastern South Carolina 2 the capital of the US state of West Virginia
**Charleston²** n the Charlestonn a quick dance popular in the 1920s
**char-ley horse** /'tʃɑ:li ˌhɔ:s||'tʃɑ:rli ˌhɔ:rs/ n AmE a sudden pain in a large muscle, such as the leg or arm muscles,