velocity

ve·loc·i·ty

noun \və-ˈlä-sə-tē, -ˈläs-tē\

plural ve·loc·i·ties

Definition of VELOCITY

1

a : quickness of motion : speed <the velocity of sound>

b : rapidity of movement <[my horse's] strong suit is grace & personal comeliness, rather than velocity — Mark Twain>

c : speed imparted to something <the power pitcher relies on velocity — Tony Scherman>

2

: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time : the derivative of position with respect to time

3

a : rate of occurrence or action : rapidity <the velocity of historical change — R. J. Lifton>

b : rate of turnover <the velocity of money>

Examples of VELOCITY

1. particles moving at high velocities
2. measuring the velocity of sound
3. the velocity of a bullet

Origin of VELOCITY

Middle French velocité, from Latin velocitat-, velocitas, from veloc-, velox quick; probably akin to Latin vegēre to enliven — more at wake

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to VELOCITY

Synonyms

celerity, fastness, fleetness, haste, hurry, quickness, rapidity, rapidness, speediness, swiftness, speed

Antonyms

slowness, sluggishness

Related Words

clip, gait, pace, rate, tempo; drive, hustle; acceleration, hastiness, precipitation, precipitousness, rush; alacrity, dispatch, expedition, expeditiousness, promptitude, promptness; warp speed

Near Antonyms

languidness, languor, leisureliness, lethargy, torpidity, torpor; reluctance; deliberateness, deliberation; dilatoriness, lateness, pokiness, procrastination

Other Physics Terms

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

Rhymes with VELOCITY

atrocity, callosity, ferocity, gibbosity, monstrosity, pomposity, porosity, precocity, verbosity, viscosity, zygosity

velocity

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Quantity that designates the speed and direction in which a body moves. It can be represented graphically by an arrow (pointing in the direction of the motion), the length of which is proportional to the magnitude, or speed. For an object in circular motion, the direction at any instant is tangential to the circle at that point, and so is perpendicular to the radius at that point. The instantaneous speed of a vehicle, such as an automobile, can be determined by a speedometer, or mathematically by differential calculus. The average speed is the ratio of the distance traveled in any given time interval divided by the time taken.