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Vacuum vs Suction - What's the difference?

vacuum | suction |

As nouns the difference between vacuum and suction

is that vacuum is a region of space that contains no matter while suction is the principle of physics by which matter is drawn from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.

As verbs the difference between vacuum and suction

is that vacuum is to clean (something) with a vacuum cleaner while suction is to create an imbalance in pressure between one space and another in order to draw matter between the spaces.

vacuum

English

Alternative forms

* (rare)

Noun

(wikipedia vacuum) (en-noun)
  • A region of space that contains no matter.
  • A vacuum cleaner.
  • The condition of rarefaction, or reduction of pressure below that of the atmosphere, in a vessel, such as the condenser of a steam engine, which is nearly exhausted of air or steam, etc.
  • a vacuum of 26 inches of mercury, or 13 pounds per square inch

    Usage notes

    * In the sense of "a region of space that contains no matter", the plural of vacuum' is either '''vacua''' or '''vacuums'''. In the sense of a "vacuum cleaner" ' vacuums is the only plural. * The Latin in vacuo'' is sometimes used instead of ''in a vacuum (in free space).

    Synonyms

    * (vacuum cleaner) hoover (British )

    Antonyms

    * (region of space that contains no matter) plenum

    Derived terms

    * power vacuum * vacuum brake * vacuum cleaner * vacuum pan * vacuum valve

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To clean (something) with a vacuum cleaner.
  • To use a vacuum cleaner.
  • Synonyms

    * (transitive sense) to hoover (British) * (intransitive sense) to do the hoovering, to hoover (British)

    suction

    Noun

    (-)
  • The principle of physics by which matter is drawn from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
  • The principle of physics by which one item is caused to adhere to another because the pressure in the space between the items is lower than the pressure outside that space.
  • The process of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another.
  • A device for removing patients saliva during dental operations, saliva ejector.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To create an imbalance in pressure between one space and another in order to draw matter between the spaces.
  • To draw out the contents of a space.
  • See also

    * suction cup * suction pad * suction stop