galvanize

English

Alternative forms

• galvanise (UK)

Etymology

From French galvaniser, from galvanisme, named after Italian physiologist Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1737–1798). By surface analysis, galvano- +‎ -ize

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡælvənaɪ̯z/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

galvanize (third-person singular simple present galvanizes, present participle galvanizing, simple past and past participle galvanized) (transitive)

1. (chemistry) To coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means.

   Synonyms: electroplate, (rare) zinc

2. To coat with rust-resistant zinc.

   to galvanize steel

3. (figurative) To shock or stimulate into sudden activity, as if by electric shock.

   Synonyms: animate, startle, urge

   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.

4. (archaic) To electrify, as by galvanism.
   • 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.

5. (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

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

• galvanization

Related terms

• galvanic

Translations

to coat with rust-resistant zinc

• Catalan: galvanitzar (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 鍍鋅／镀锌 (zh) (dùxīn)

• Danish: forzinke, galvanisere (da)
• Dutch: verzinken (nl)
• Estonian: galvaniseerima
• Faroese: málmklæða
• Finnish: galvanoida (fi)
• French: galvaniser (fr)
• German: verzinken (de)
• Greek: γαλβανίζω (el) (galvanízo)
• Italian: galvanizzare (it)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: forsinke (no)

  Nynorsk: forsinka, forsinke

• Portuguese: galvanizar (pt)
• Russian: оцинко́вывать (ru) impf (ocinkóvyvatʹ), оцинкова́ть (ru) pf (ocinkovátʹ)
• Spanish: galvanizar (es)
• Swedish: galvanisera (sv)

to coat with a thin layer of metal by electrochemical means

• Catalan: galvanitzar (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 電鍍／电镀 (zh) (diàndù)

• Czech: galvanizovat
• Danish: galvanisere (da)
• Dutch: galvaniseren (nl), verzinken (nl)
• Esperanto: galvanizi
• Estonian: galvaniseerima
• Finnish: galvanoida (fi)
• French: galvaniser (fr)
• Georgian: გალვანიზება (galvanizeba)
• German: galvanisieren (de)
• Greek: γαλβανίζω (el) (galvanízo)
• Italian: galvanizzare (it)
• Japanese: 活性化する (かっせいかする, kasseika suru)
• Portuguese: galvanizar (pt)
• Russian: гальванизи́ровать (ru) impf or pf (galʹvanizírovatʹ)
• Spanish: galvanizar (es)
• Swedish: galvanisera (sv)

to shock or stimulate into sudden activity

• Catalan: galvanitzar (ca)
• Estonian: galvaniseerima
• Finnish: sähköistää (fi)
• French: galvaniser (fr)
• Georgian: გამოცოცხლება (gamococxleba), წახალისება (c̣axaliseba), მოტივირება (moṭivireba)
• German: aufrütteln, aufschrecken (de), wachrütteln (de), einen Impuls setzen, beleben (de)
• Greek: ξεσηκώνω (el) (xesikóno)
• Italian: galvanizzare (it), stimolare (it), spingere (it), incitare (it), spronare (it), elettrizzare (it)
• Russian: оживля́ть (ru) impf (oživljátʹ), оживи́ть (ru) pf (oživítʹ)
• Spanish: galvanizar (es), espabilar (es), asustar (es), estimular (es)

Portuguese

Verb

galvanize

1. inflection of galvanizar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative

Turkish

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish غالوانیزه (galvanize), from French galvanisé, past participle of galvaniser.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡal.va.ni.ze/

Adjective

galvanize

1. galvanized (coated with zinc)

   Synonym: galvanizli

Related terms

• galvaniz