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Synonyms

physics

American  
[fiz-iks] / ˈfɪz ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)
  1. the science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force.


physics British  
/ ˈfɪzɪks /

noun

  1. the branch of science concerned with the properties of matter and energy and the relationships between them. It is based on mathematics and traditionally includes mechanics, optics, electricity and magnetism, acoustics, and heat. Modern physics, based on quantum theory, includes atomic, nuclear, particle, and solid-state studies. It can also embrace applied fields such as geophysics and meteorology

  2. physical properties of behaviour

    the physics of the electron

  3. archaic natural science or natural philosophy

"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

physics Scientific  
/ fĭzĭks /
  1. The scientific study of matter, energy, space, and time, and of the relations between them.

  2. The behavior of a given physical system, especially as understood by a physical theory.


physics Cultural  
  1. The scientific study of matter and motion. (See mechanics, optics, quantum mechanics, relativity, and thermodynamics.)


Etymology

Origin of physics

First recorded in 1580–90; physic, -ics

Compare meaning

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His team explored a new way to combine gravity with quantum physics, which describes how the smallest particles behave.

From Science Daily

You apply the problem to the place you implement it—the trapeze bar that lets you feel the way the physics equations work.

From Literature

To avoid creating and managing radioactive waste, TAE wants to use a fuel that requires far hotter plasmas than other fusion companies aim for, posing a bigger physics challenge.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The bottleneck isn't just money. It's industrial physics", Matisek said, pointing to issues including capacity constraints at the supplier level.

From Barron's

"There appears to be little additional physics required to explain the stripes qualitatively," Medvedev said.

From Science Daily