vacuum

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

noun

plural

vacuums, vacua 

1. a space entirely devoid of matter.

2. 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 (plenum ).

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

4. a space not filled or occupied; emptiness; void.

   The loss left a vacuum in his heart.

5. a vacuum cleaner or sweeper.

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

adjective

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

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

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

4. 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)

1. to use a vacuum cleaner on; clean with a vacuum cleaner.

   to vacuum rugs.

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

verb (used without object)

1. to use a vacuum cleaner.

   to vacuum in the dining room.

vacuum

/ ˈvækjʊəm /

noun

1. a region containing no matter; free space Compare plenum

2. a region in which gas is present at a low pressure

3. the degree of exhaustion of gas within an enclosed space

   a high vacuum

   a perfect vacuum

4. a sense or feeling of emptiness

   his death left a vacuum in her life

5. short for vacuum cleaner

6. (modifier) of, containing, measuring, producing, or operated by a low gas pressure

   a vacuum tube

   a vacuum brake

verb

1. to clean (something) with a vacuum cleaner

   to vacuum a carpet

vacuum

plural

vacuums 

1. A region of space in which there is no matter.

2. 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.

vacuum

1. The absence of matter.

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

Other Word Forms

• nonvacuum adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vacuum¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vacuum¹

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

Example Sentences

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.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If there is a vacuum created by America's international manoeuvres, it is a void China appears more than willing to fill.

Read more on BBC

“Keeping the Fed in motion will require cooperation from the data, and a significant effort from Powell working to corral a committee with widely divergent views proceeding in a data vacuum.”

Read more on Barron's

Yet another is a human-controlled device that uses a vacuum tube to suck up the apples.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Food banks and other private or institutional programs can’t fill the vacuum left by the disappearance of federal benefits.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gap 
• void