definitions

perpetual motion

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noun Mechanics.

the motion of a theoretical mechanism that, without any losses due to friction or other forms of dissipation of energy, would continue to operate indefinitely at the same rate without any external energy being applied to it.

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Nearby words

perpetual adoration, perpetual calendar, perpetual check, perpetual debenture, perpetual inventory, perpetual motion, perpetual-motion machine, perpetuate, perpetuation, perpetuity, perpetuous

Origin of perpetual motion

First recorded in 1585–95
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perpetual motion

British Dictionary definitions for perpetual motion

perpetual motion

noun

Also called: perpetual motion of the first kind motion of a hypothetical mechanism that continues indefinitely without any external source of energy. It is impossible in practice because of friction
Also called: perpetual motion of the second kind motion of a hypothetical mechanism that derives its energy from a source at a lower temperature. It is impossible in practice because of the second law of thermodynamics
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012