Brownian movement
[brou-nee-uh n]
- the irregular motion of small particles suspended in a liquid or a gas, caused by the bombardment of the particles by molecules of the medium: first observed by Robert Brown in 1827.
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Origin of Brownian movement
Also called Brownian motion.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Brownian movement
- random movement of microscopic particles suspended in a fluid, caused by bombardment of the particles by molecules of the fluid. First observed in 1827, it provided strong evidence in support of the kinetic theory of molecules
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Word Origin
C19: named after Robert Brown
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for brownian motion
Brownian movement
n.
1871, for Scottish scientist Dr. Robert Brown (1773-1858), who first described it.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Brownian movement
(brŏu′nē-ən)- The random movement of microscopic particles suspended in a liquid or gas, caused by collisions with molecules of the surrounding medium.Brownian motion molecular movement pedesis
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Brownian motion
[brou′nē-ən]
- The random movement of microscopic particles suspended in a liquid or gas, caused by collisions between these particles and the molecules of the liquid or gas. This movement is named for its identifier, Scottish botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858). See also kinetic theory.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Brownian motion
The erratic motion, visible through a microscope, of small grains suspended in a fluid. The motion results from collisions between the grains and atoms or molecules in the fluid.
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Note
Brownian motion was first explained by the twentieth-century physicist Albert Einstein, who considered it direct proof of the existence of atoms.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.