vacuum

¹vac·u·um

noun \ˈva-(ˌ)kyüm, -kyəm also -kyü-əm\

plural vac·u·ums or vac·ua \-kyə-wə\

Definition of VACUUM

1

: emptiness of space

2

a : a space absolutely devoid of matter

b : a space partially exhausted (as to the highest degree possible) by artificial means (as an air pump)

c : a degree of rarefaction below atmospheric pressure

3

a : a state or condition resembling a vacuum : void <the power vacuum in Indochina after the departure of the French — Norman Cousins>

b : a state of isolation from outside influences <people who live in a vacuum…so that the world outside them is of no moment — W. S. Maugham>

4

: a device creating or utilizing a partial vacuum; especially : vacuum cleaner

Examples of VACUUM

1. the vacuum of outer space
2. A pump was used to create a vacuum inside the bottle.

Origin of VACUUM

Latin, from neuter of vacuus empty, from vacare to be empty

First Known Use: 1550

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

²vacuum

adjective

Definition of VACUUM

1

: of, containing, producing, or utilizing a partial vacuum <separated by means of vacuum distillation>

2

: of or relating to a vacuum device or system

First Known Use of VACUUM

1825

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

³vacuum

verb

Definition of VACUUM

transitive verb

1

: to use a vacuum device (as a vacuum cleaner) on <vacuum the living room>

2

: to draw or take in by or as if by suction

intransitive verb

: to operate a vacuum device

First Known Use of VACUUM

1922

vacuum

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Space in which there is no matter or in which the pressure is so low that any particles in the space do not affect any processes being carried on there. It is a condition well below normal atmospheric pressure and is measured in units of pressure (the pascal). A vacuum can be created by removing air from a space using a vacuum pump or by reducing the pressure using a fast flow of fluid, as in Bernoulli's principle.