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)
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void Etymology 1
From (etyl) vuit'', ''voide (modern vide).
Adjective
( -)
Containing nothing; empty; vacant; not occupied; not filled.
* Bible, Genesis i. 2
- The earth was without form, and void .
* Shakespeare
- I'll get me to a place more void .
* Massinger
- I'll chain him in my study, that, at void hours, / I may run over the story of his country.
Having no incumbent; unoccupied; said of offices etc.
* Camden
- divers great offices that had been long void
Being without; destitute; devoid.
* Bible, Proverbs xi. 12
- He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor.
Not producing any effect; ineffectual; vain.
* Bible, Isa. lv. 11
- [My word] shall not return to me void , but it shall accomplish that which I please.
* Bible, Jer. xix. 7
- I will make void the counsel of Judah.
Of no legal force or effect, incapable of confirmation or ratification.
- null and void
Containing no immaterial quality; destitute of mind or soul.
* Alexander Pope
- idol, void and vain
(computing, programming, of a function or method) That does not return a value.
* 2005 , Craig Larman, Applying UML and patterns
- In particular, the roll method is void — it has no return value.
* 2007 , Andrew Krause, Foundations of GTK+ Development
- The return value can safely be ignored if it is a void function.
Noun
( en noun)
An empty space; a vacuum.
- Nobody has crossed the void since one man died trying three hundred years ago; it's high time we had another go.
* Alexander Pope
- Pride, where wit fails, steps in to our defence, / And fills up all the mighty void of sense.
(astronomy) An extended region of space containing no galaxies
(materials science) A collection of adjacent vacancies inside a crystal lattice.
(fluid mechanics) A pocket of vapour inside a fluid flow, created by cavitation.
Synonyms
* pore
* bubble
Verb
( en verb)
(label) To make invalid or worthless.
:
* (1609-1674)
*:It was become a practiceto void the security that was at any time given for money so borrowed.
*(w) (1643-1715)
*:after they had voided the obligation of the oath he had taken
To empty.
:
To throw or send out; to evacuate; to emit; to discharge.
:
*
*:You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
*(John Webster) (c.1580-c.1634)
*:With shovel, like a fury, voided out / The earth and scattered bones.
*(Isaac Barrow) (1630-1677)
*:a watchful application of mind in voiding prejudices
To withdraw, depart.
*:
*:BY than come in to the feld kynge Ban as fyers as a lyon/ Ha a said kyng Lot we must be discomfyte / for yonder I see the moste valyaunt knyght of the world / and the man of the most renoume / for suche ij bretheren as is kyng Ban & kyng bors ar not lyuynge / wherfore we must nedes voyde or deye
To remove the contents of; to make or leave vacant or empty; to quit; to leave.
:
* '>citation
*
*:If they will fight with us, bid them come down, / Or void the field.
Synonyms
* (make invalid or worthless) annul, cancel
* evacuate
Etymology 2
Alteration of (voidee).
Noun
( en noun)
* 2011 , Thomas Penn, Winter King , Penguin 2012, p. 68:
- Late on the final evening, as the customary ‘void ’ – spiced wine and sweetmeats – was served, more elaborate disguisings in the great hall culminated in the release of a flock of white doves.
Anagrams
*
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