charge 1 n
1 a: something required: obligation
b: personal management or supervision
put the child in his charge
c: a person or thing placed under the care of another
2: an authoritative instruction or command; esp: instruction in points of law given by a judge to a jury
conviction...reversed, because of trial court's charge — W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
3 a: an incurred expense
b: the price demanded for something (as admission or use)
a finance charge
c: a debit to an account; esp: a debit resulting from unexpected operating expenses
a charge against earnings
4: a formal allegation of an offense or wrongdoing
based on a charge that was dismissed — National Law Journal see also complaint, indictment, information
charge 2 vt charged, charg·ing
1 a: to impose a task or responsibility on
was charged with protecting civil rights
b: to command or instruct with authority; esp: to give a charge to (a jury)
the jury should have been charged on common-law negligence — National Law Journal
2 a: to make an accusation against esp. in order to bring to trial
b: to allege esp. as an accusation
crimes charged in the indictment
3 a: to impose a financial liability on
charge the estate
b: to impose or record as a financial burden or liability
charge the debts to the estate
charging the loss against earnings
4 a: to fix or ask as a fee or payment
charge $4 for parking
b: to ask payment of (an individual or organization)
charge a client for expenses
charge·able adj
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.