vacuum

Definition

A region of space that contains no matter.

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin vacuum (“vacuum”), a subsense of Classical Latin vacuum (“empty space”), a substantivised form of vacuus (“empty”); related to vacāre (“to be empty”). The exercise sense comes from analogy to the sucking action of a vacuum cleaner.

Example Sentences

• "The Wards are open-topped, with skyscrapers rising from the superstructure. Towers are sealed against vacuum, as the breathable atmosphere envelope is only maintained to a height of about seven meters. The atmosphere is contained by the centrifugal force of rotation and a "membrane" of dense, colorless sulphur hexafluoride gas, held in place by carefully managed mass effect fields."
• "a vacuum of 26 inches of mercury, or 13 pounds per square inch"
• "Henrietta soon found a terrible vacuum left, by the letters in which she used to pour forth every feeling and thought to her uncle."

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