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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use vacuum in a sentence

If you don't need a new Apple Watch, though, we also have deals on Bose wireless headphones, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch, Roomba robot vacuums, and much more.
The new Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE are both $50 off today|Ars Staff|November 19, 2020|Ars Technica
Armed with carbon dioxide gas and a powerful vacuum, they approached their target — an insect nest the size of a basketball — and began whacking away with a stick.
A nest filled with hundreds of ‘murder hornets’ was destroyed ‘just in the nick of time,’ officials say|Teo Armus|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Working together with engineers at the Linde cryobiology lab near Buffalo, ABS developed a mobile cold-storage canister that combined both a new insulation material and a vacuum to support liquid nitrogen.
The secret weapon for distributing a potential covid-19 vaccine|Joanna Radin|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Now that its titular head has lost the election, the movement faces volatility and a political vacuum.
Even in defeat, the embers of Trumpism still burn in the Republican Party|Robert Costa, Philip Rucker, Josh Dawsey|November 9, 2020|Washington Post

The S9 is iRobot’s most powerful robot vacuum yet, with up to 40 times the suction power compared to previous models and advanced sensors for cleaning deep into corners and along wall edges.
Home-improvement gifts|Rachel King|November 8, 2020|Fortune
The shirts are ironed, the sheets are changed, the floors are vacuumed.
The Bag Lady Papers|Alexandra Penney|December 17, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Once a day they sent down a tube after he ate and vacuumed up the cell, disposing of any wastes.
Futuria Fantasia, Fall 1939|Ray Bradbury
Sextus' practiced eye vacuumed details from the lobby, the well-swept carpets, freshly emptied sand-jars and the modern elevators.
Forsyte's Retreat|Winston Marks

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

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 related to vacuum

How to use vacuum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vacuum

Word Origin for vacuum

Scientific definitions for vacuum

Cultural definitions for vacuum

notes for vacuum

notes for vacuum