pendulum

American  

[pen-juh-luhm, pen-duh-] / ˈpɛn dʒə ləm, ˈpɛn də- /

noun

1. a body so suspended from a fixed point as to move to and fro by the action of gravity and acquired momentum.

2. Horology. a swinging lever, weighted at the lower end, for regulating the speed of a clock mechanism.

3. something that tends to move from one position, condition, etc., to the opposite extreme and then back again.

   In a democratic society, the pendulum of political thought swings left and right.

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pendulum British  

/ ˈpɛndjʊləm /

noun

1. a body mounted so that it can swing freely under the influence of gravity. It is either a bob hung on a light thread ( simple pendulum ) or a more complex structure ( compound pendulum )

2. such a device used to regulate a clockwork mechanism

3. something that changes its position, attitude, etc fairly regularly

   the pendulum of public opinion

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pendulum Scientific  

/ pĕn′jə-ləm /

1. A mass hung from a fixed support so that it is able to swing freely under the influence of gravity. Since the motion of pendulums is regular and periodic, they are often used to regulate the action of various devices, especially clocks.

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Other Word Forms

• pendulumlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of pendulum

1650–60; < New Latin, noun use of neuter of Latin pendulus pendulous

Example Sentences

We can think of climate change as a pendulum: as it intensifies, it swings from one extreme to another, hot and cold and dry and wet.

From Salon

There’s only one way for the pendulum to swing: back toward adulthood, or what our therapist contributor calls proper psychological distance.

From The Wall Street Journal

The housing policy pendulum has swung from favoring actions to reduce housing costs by spurring supply to those favoring demand, says Rick Palacios, Jr., the director of research at John Burns Research and Consulting.

From Barron's

But eventually the current wave loses its potency, the pendulum swings to the next outsiders, and the vicious circle folds into itself like an Escher painting.

From The Wall Street Journal

And since he’ll turn 27 before the Milano Cortina Olympic Games open in February, he may not be able to wait for the pendulum to swing back to have another chance at being an Olympian.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• timer