Search Result for "vacuum": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (4)

1. the absence of matter;
[syn: vacuum, vacuity]

2. an empty area or space;
- Example: "the huge desert voids"
- Example: "the emptiness of outer space"
- Example: "without their support he'll be ruling in a vacuum"
[syn: void, vacancy, emptiness, vacuum]

3. a region that is devoid of matter;
[syn: vacuum, vacuity]

4. an electrical home appliance that cleans by suction;
[syn: vacuum, vacuum cleaner]


VERB (1)

1. clean with a vacuum cleaner;
- Example: "vacuum the carpets"
[syn: vacuum, vacuum-clean, hoover]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Vacuum \Vac"u*um\ (v[a^]k"[-u]*[u^]m), n.; pl. E. Vacuums (v[a^]k"[-u]*[u^]mz), L. Vacua (v[a^]k"[-u]*[.a]). [L., fr. vacuus empty. See Vacuous.] 1. (Physics) A space entirely devoid of matter (called also, by way of distinction, absolute vacuum); hence, in a more general sense, a space, as the interior of a closed vessel, which has been exhausted to a high or the highest degree by an air pump or other artificial means; as, water boils at a reduced temperature in a vacuum. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster] 2. The condition of rarefaction, or reduction of pressure below that of the atmosphere, in a vessel, as the condenser of a steam engine, which is nearly exhausted of air or steam, etc.; as, a vacuum of 26 inches of mercury, or 13 pounds per square inch. [1913 Webster] Vacuum brake, a kind of continuous brake operated by exhausting the air from some appliance under each car, and so causing the pressure of the atmosphere to apply the brakes. Vacuum pan (Technol.), a kind of large closed metallic retort used in sugar making for boiling down sirup. It is so connected with an exhausting apparatus that a partial vacuum is formed within. This allows the evaporation and concentration to take place at a lower atmospheric pressure and hence also at a lower temperature, which largely obviates the danger of burning the sugar, and shortens the process. Vacuum pump. Same as Pulsometer, 1. Vacuum tube (Phys.), (a) a glass tube provided with platinum electrodes and exhausted, for the passage of the electrical discharge; a Geissler tube. (a) any tube used in electronic devices, containing a vacuum and used to control the flow of electrons in a circuit, as a vacuum diode, triode, tetrode, or pentode. Vacuum valve, a safety valve opening inward to admit air to a vessel in which the pressure is less than that of the atmosphere, in order to prevent collapse. Torricellian vacuum. See under Torricellian. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Vacuum cleaner \Vac"u*um clean"er\ A machine for cleaning carpets, tapestry, upholstered work, etc., by suction; -- sometimes called a vacuum. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

vacuum n 1: the absence of matter [syn: vacuum, vacuity] 2: an empty area or space; "the huge desert voids"; "the emptiness of outer space"; "without their support he'll be ruling in a vacuum" [syn: void, vacancy, emptiness, vacuum] 3: a region that is devoid of matter [syn: vacuum, vacuity] 4: an electrical home appliance that cleans by suction [syn: vacuum, vacuum cleaner] v 1: clean with a vacuum cleaner; "vacuum the carpets" [syn: vacuum, vacuum-clean, hoover]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

43 Moby Thesaurus words for "vacuum": absence, absence of mind, blank, blankness, broom, brush, brush off, clean slate, deprivation, emptiness, empty space, empty-headedness, hollowness, inanity, jejunity, mental void, negation, negativeness, negativity, nihility, nonbeing, nonentity, nonexistence, nonoccurrence, nonreality, nonsubsistence, not-being, nothing, nothingness, nullity, sweep, sweep out, sweep up, tabula rasa, unactuality, unreality, vacancy, vacuity, vacuousness, vacuum-clean, vapidity, void, whisk