vacuum cleaner

American  

noun

1. an electrical appliance for cleaning carpets, floors, etc., by suction.

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vacuum cleaner British  

noun

1. an electrical household appliance used for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, etc, by suction

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Other Word Forms

• vacuum cleaning noun

Etymology

Origin of vacuum cleaner

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

The US firm behind the Roomba smart vacuum cleaner, iRobot, has filed for bankruptcy protection after facing competition from Chinese rivals and being hit by tariffs.

From BBC

On Boxing Day, an edit by Sir James - the billionaire inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner - will consider how the UK could boost its entrepreneurial spirit.

From BBC

So he removed the AC units, sealed the windows and searched for the best tool he had: a vacuum cleaner.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two machines resembling robotic vacuum cleaners sped around a ring colliding, shooting sparks and catching fire, as Iranian engineering students watched from behind plexiglass.

From Barron's

Her first spoken word, which comes to her while gazing in awe upon a “disappearing machine,” as she thinks of it, is the French term for “vacuum cleaner.”

From The Wall Street Journal