live wire

Live Live (l[imac]v), a. [Abbreviated from alive. See {Alive}, {Life}.] 1. Having life; alive; living; not dead. [1913 Webster]

If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it. --Ex. xxi. 35. [1913 Webster]

2. Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers. `` The live ether.'' --Thomson. [1913 Webster]

3. Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator. [1913 Webster]

4. Vivid; bright. `` The live carnation.'' --Thomson. [1913 Webster]

5. (Engin.) Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe; live steam. [1913 Webster]

6. (Elec.) Connected to a voltage source; as, a live wire. [PJC]

7. (Broadcasting) Being transmitted instantaneously, as events occur, in contrast to {recorded}. [PJC]

8. (Sport) Still in active play; -- of a ball being used in a game; as, a live ball. [PJC]

9. Pertaining to an entertainment event which was performed (and possibly recorded) in front of an audience; contrasted to performances recorded in a studio without an audience. [PJC]

{Live birth}, the condition of being born in such a state that acts of life are manifested after the extrusion of the whole body. --Dunglison.

{Live box}, a cell for holding living objects under microscopical examination. --P. H. Gosse.

{Live feathers}, feathers which have been plucked from the living bird, and are therefore stronger and more elastic.

{Live gang}. (Sawing) See under {Gang}.

{Live grass} (Bot.), a grass of the genus {Eragrostis}.

{Live load} (Engin.), a suddenly applied load; a varying load; a moving load; as a moving train of cars on a bridge, or wind pressure on a roof.

{Live oak} (Bot.), a species of oak ({Quercus virens}), growing in the Southern States, of great durability, and highly esteemed for ship timber. In California the {Quercus chrysolepis} and some other species are also called live oaks.

{Live ring} (Engin.), a circular train of rollers upon which a swing bridge, or turntable, rests, and which travels around a circular track when the bridge or table turns.

{Live steam}, steam direct from the boiler, used for any purpose, in distinction from {exhaust steam}.

{Live stock}, horses, cattle, and other domestic animals kept on a farm. whole body.

{live wire} (a) (Elec.) a wire connected to a power source, having a voltage potential; -- used esp. of a power line with a high potential relative to ground, capable of harming a person who touches it. (b) (Fig.) a person who is unusually active, alert, or aggressive. [1913 Webster +PJC]