What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
d'Alembert's principle
noun
d'A·lem·bert's principle
\¦daləm¦be(ə)rz-\
Definition of d'Alembert's principle
: a principle in mechanics: the reaction due to the inertia of an accelerated body (as a baseball) is equal and opposite to the force causing the acceleration (as the blow of a bat upon the baseball) and results in a condition of kinetic equilibrium — compare law of motion 3
From the M-W Editors
There's more!
Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:
- More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
- Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
- Advanced search features
- Ad free!
Origin and Etymology of d'alembert's principle
after Jean LeRond d'Alembert †1783 French mathematician, its formulator
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up d'Alembert's principle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!