vacuum

[ vak-yoom, -yoo-uhm, -yuhm ]

/ ˈvæk yum, -yu əm, -yəm /

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See synonyms for: vacuum / vacuumed / vacuuming on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural vac·u·ums for 1, 2, 4-6, vac·u·a

[vak-yoo-uh] /ˈvæk yu ə/ for 1, 2, 4, 6.

a space entirely devoid of matter.

an enclosed space from which matter, especially air, has been partially removed so that the matter or gas remaining in the space exerts less pressure than the atmosphere (opposed to plenum).

the state or degree of exhaustion in such an enclosed space.

a space not filled or occupied; emptiness; void: The loss left a vacuum in his heart.

a vacuum cleaner or sweeper.

Physics. a state of lowest energy in a quantum field theory.

adjective

of, pertaining to, employing, or producing a vacuum.

(of a hollow container) partly exhausted of gas or air.

pertaining to a device or process that makes use of a vacuum to accomplish a desired task.

noting or pertaining to canning or packaging in which air is removed from the container to prevent deterioration of the contents.

verb (used with object)

to use a vacuum cleaner on; clean with a vacuum cleaner: to vacuum rugs.

to treat with any vacuum device, as a vacuum drier.

verb (used without object)

to use a vacuum cleaner: to vacuum in the dining room.

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Origin of vacuum

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin, neuter of vacuus “empty”

OTHER WORDS FROM vacuum

non·vac·u·um, adjective, noun, plural non·vac·u·ums, non·vac·u·a.

Words nearby vacuum

vacuolated, vacuolation, vacuole, vacuous, vacutome, vacuum, vacuum activity, vacuum aspiration, vacuum bottle, vacuum brake, vacuum casting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use vacuum in a sentence

To do so, astrobiologists took their experiments to space to see how terrestrial life holds up in this harsh environment, where the vacuum, lack of oxygen, ultraviolet radiation and extreme temperatures would seem to preclude it.
Clumps of bacteria could spread life between planets|Paola Rosa-Aquino|August 27, 2020|Popular-Science
In fact, inflation comes together with a recipe for the quantum state of fields in the inflationary epoch, a so-called Bunch-Davies vacuum.
Schrödinger’s Cat When Nobody Is Looking - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Daniel Sudarsky|August 26, 2020|Nautilus
That demise would not be a result of expansion or contraction, but due to a phenomenon called vacuum decay.
‘The End of Everything’ explores the ways the universe could perish|Emily Conover|August 4, 2020|Science News
As the pandemic worsened over the summer, the lack of clear state guidance about how and if to reopen schools was creating another vacuum.
How Los Angeles and San Diego Unified Started Driving State Education Policy|Will Huntsberry|July 29, 2020|Voice of San Diego

The vacuum re-creates the downward pull of gravity, planting the person’s feet firmly on the floor of the chamber and drawing bodily fluids toward the legs.
What will astronauts need to survive the dangerous journey to Mars?|Maria Temming|July 15, 2020|Science News
But politicians abhor a rhetorical vacuum, and they have clamored to fill it.
The 2014 Novel of the Year|Nathaniel Rich|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every conspiracy theory starts with an information vacuum, which then tumbles into fantasy.
The Intern Who Birthed The KAL007 Conspiracy Theories|Tim Mak|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a vacuum (translation: but for Obama), this could be a killer year for Democrats.
Biggest Midterm Issue? The Obamaphant in the Living Room|Dean Obeidallah|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are also drones which vacuum the wireless spectrum, picking up tweets, emails, and Skype chats.
Hamas Has Already Won Its Rocket War With Israel|Eli Lake|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So Iran would have to eventually withdraw, leaving a power vacuum, again, in those areas.
Iran Is the Biggest Loser in Iraq|Aki Peritz|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its first cost and expense in working to be much less than that of the Watt low-pressure steam vacuum engine.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The Wheal Prosper 16-inch pole high-pressure expansive steam vacuum engine commenced its up-stroke with steam of 100 lbs.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The conversion of the other, a 63-inch low-pressure vacuum engine at Wheal Gons, will be traced in this chapter.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The steam pressure in the Newcomen atmospheric was continued unaltered in the Watt vacuum engine.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
A very thin vacuum shutter forms a better interrupter of sound waves than a brick wall two or three feet in thickness.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller

British Dictionary definitions for vacuum

vacuum

/ (ˈvækjʊəm) /

noun plural vacuums or vacua (ˈvækjʊə)

a region containing no matter; free spaceCompare plenum (def. 3)

a region in which gas is present at a low pressure

the degree of exhaustion of gas within an enclosed spacea high vacuum; a perfect vacuum

a sense or feeling of emptinesshis death left a vacuum in her life

short for vacuum cleaner

(modifier) of, containing, measuring, producing, or operated by a low gas pressurea vacuum tube; a vacuum brake

verb

to clean (something) with a vacuum cleanerto vacuum a carpet

Word Origin for vacuum

C16: from Latin: an empty space, from vacuus empty

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

Medical definitions for vacuum

vacuum

[ văk′yōō-əm, -yōōm, -yəm ]

n. pl. vac•u•ums

Absence of matter.

A space empty of matter.

A space relatively empty of matter.

A space in which the pressure is significantly lower than atmospheric pressure.

Scientific definitions for vacuum

vacuum

[ văk′yōōm ]

Plural vacuums vacuua

A region of space in which there is no matter.

A region of space having extremely low gas pressure relative to surrounding pressure. The air pump of a vacuum cleaner, for example, drastically reduces the air pressure inside the device, creating a vacuum; the pressure difference causes air to rush into it, carrying dust and debris along with it.

Cultural definitions for vacuum

vacuum

The absence of matter.

notes for vacuum

In the natural world, air will flow into regions of vacuum, giving rise to the saying “Nature abhors a vacuum.”

notes for vacuum

The saying is extended informally: in politics, a lack of leadership may be referred to as a vacuum, which will presumably be filled by others rushing in.

vacuum

Origin of vacuum

OTHER WORDS FROM vacuum

Words nearby vacuum

Words related to vacuum

How to use vacuum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vacuum

Word Origin for vacuum

Medical definitions for vacuum

Scientific definitions for vacuum

Cultural definitions for vacuum

notes for vacuum

notes for vacuum