free-fall

¹ American  

[free-fawl] / ˈfriˌfɔl /

verb (used without object)

free-fell, free-fallen, free-falling

1. (of parachutists) to descend initially, as for a designated interval, in a free fall.

   The jumpers were required to free-fall for eight seconds.

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adjective

1. denoting or suggesting a free fall.

   a free-fall recession.

noun

1. free fall.

free fall ² American  

noun

1. the hypothetical fall of a body such that the only force acting upon it is that of gravity.

2. the part of a parachute jump that precedes the opening of the parachute.

3. a decline, especially a sudden or rapid decline, as in value or prestige, that appears to be endless or bottomless.

   The economy was in a free fall all winter.

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free fall British  

noun

1. free descent of a body in which the gravitational force is the only force acting on it

2. the part of a parachute descent before the parachute opens

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free fall Cultural  

1. In physics, the motion of a body being acted upon only by gravity. A satellite in orbit is in free fall, as is a skydiver (if we neglect the effects of air resistance).

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free fall Idioms  

1. A rapid, uncontrolled decline, as in The markets threatened to go into free fall and we came close to outright panic. This term transfers the aeronautical meaning of a free fall, that is, “a fall through the air without any impedance, such as a parachute,” to other kinds of precipitous drop. [Second half of 1900s]

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Discover More

During free fall, objects are said to be weightless.

Etymology

Origin of free-fall¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Origin of free fall¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

You don’t want to just free fall every time you slip.”

From Literature

In Pacific Palisades, lot prices went into “free fall” between February and June last year as available lots flooded the market, dropping 40%, said Dan Urbach, a Realtor in that community.

From Los Angeles Times

Someone offering you a higher fixed rate of interest on bonds, at a moment when the economy is in free fall, is someone offering you free money.

From MarketWatch

At the same time, his stunning free fall might wind up making him surprisingly good value as a late-round pick for Cleveland.

From The Wall Street Journal

We fly through the open window and tumble into free fall.

From Literature