vacuum

1 of 3

noun

vac·​u·​um ˈva-(ˌ)kyüm 

-kyəm,

also

-kyü-əm 

plural vacuums or vacua ˈva-kyə-wə 

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 (such 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

vacuum

2 of 3

verb

vacuumed; vacuuming; vacuums

transitive verb

1

: to use a vacuum device (such 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

vacuum

3 of 3

adjective

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

Examples of vacuum in a Sentence

Noun

the vacuum of outer space

A pump was used to create a vacuum inside the bottle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unlike other food storage systems, this relies on a vacuum for sealing up bags and containers, and keeps food up to five times fresher, per the brand. —Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024

Those divides have created a vacuum that states have increasingly looked to fill, with more than a dozen passing their own privacy laws. —Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Parents, in particular, appreciated the portable vacuum for handling spills and messes. —Amy Gordon, Parents, 3 Apr. 2024

Robot lawn mowers take over the task for you, functioning much like a robot vacuum to automate your grass-trimming experience. —Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2024

Leaving sports created a vacuum that academics couldn’t fill. —Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Wet mop and vacuum often, especially if there is a child in the home. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024

The entire population of Gaza faces acute food shortages, with half facing famine, while in the West Bank armed groups are filling the security vacuum amid the political implosion of the Palestinian Authority. —Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024

And to jumpstart your spring cleaning, invest in a quality vacuum from Shark and a steam mop from Dirt Devil for as little as $40. —Bridget Degnan, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024

Verb

Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming up. —Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024

For a quick clean, the brand prefers shaking the mat instead of vacuuming it. —Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024

This particular filter should be wiped clean or vacuumed monthly and then replaced every six months. —Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 15 Feb. 2024

Mining contractors have tested robots that vacuum up the nodules, which are a habitat for deep ocean animals. —Todd Woody, Fortune Europe, 13 Jan. 2024

Glass jars that have been vacuum sealed with a food evacuator are the gold standard, says Schaich. —Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024

Coffee grounds were vacuumed completely away in a few swipes and didn’t go deep into the carpet. —Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2024

Robert Lanter lives in a 600-square-foot house that can be traversed in five seconds and vacuumed from a single outlet. —Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024

The app shows the progression of each cleaning session and highlights areas in different colors to show where the robot vacuumed versus mopped. —Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024

Adjective

Both the container and the vacuum sealer bags keep food fresh for up to five times longer than non-vacuum sealed containers, plus, the container and bags are reusable and resealable. —Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2024

The non-vacuum up there is dense enough, in fact, that atmospheric drag keeps pulling the station down, requiring regular orbital boosts. —Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Medieval Latin (translation of Greek kenón), from neuter of Latin vacuus "empty, unoccupied," from vacāre "to be empty or unoccupied, have space, be free" + -uus, deverbal adjective suffix — more at vacant

First Known Use

Noun

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vacuum

• cause/create/leave a vacuum
• vacuum bottle
• vacuum cleaner
• vacuum-packed
• in a vacuum
• vacuum flask
• vacuum pan
• vacuum tube
• vacuum gauge
• vacuum pump

Kids Definition

vacuum

1 of 3 noun

vac·​u·​um ˈvak-yüm  -yu̇-əm 

-yəm

plural vacuums or vacua -yə-wə 

1

a

: a space completely empty of matter

b

: a space from which most of the air has been removed (as by a pump)

2

: vacuum cleaner

vacuum

2 of 3 adjective

: of, containing, producing, or using a partial vacuum

the vacuum method of making coffee

vacuum

3 of 3 verb

: to use a vacuum cleaner on

Etymology

Noun

from Latin vacuum "emptiness," from vacuus "empty"

Medical Definition

vacuum

1 of 2 noun

vac·​u·​um ˈvak-(ˌ)yüm  -yu̇-əm 

-yəm

plural vacuums or vacua -yə-wə 

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 : negative pressure

vacuum

2 of 2 adjective

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