First Known Use: 1505
Dictionary
gravity
noun, grav·i·ty often attributive \ˈgra-və-tē\
: a very serious quality or condition : the condition of being grave or serious
: the natural force that tends to cause physical things to move towards each other : the force that causes things to fall towards the Earth
plural grav·i·ties
Full Definition of GRAVITY
1
a : dignity or sobriety of bearing b : importance, significance; especially : seriousness c : a serious situation or problem
2
: weight
3
a (1) : the gravitational attraction of the mass of the earth, the moon, or a planet for bodies at or near its surface (2) : a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions which occur because of mass between particles, between aggregations of matter (as stars and planets), and between particles (as photons) and aggregations of matter, that is 10-39 times the strength of the strong force, and that extends over infinite distances but is dominant over macroscopic distances especially between aggregations of matter —called also gravitation, gravitational force — compare electromagnetism 2a, strong force, weak force b : acceleration of gravity c : specific gravity
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Origin of GRAVITY
Middle French or Latin; Middle French gravité, from Latin gravitat-, gravitas, from gravis
Related to GRAVITY
- Synonyms
- earnest, graveness, earnestness, intentness, serious-mindedness, seriousness, soberness, sobriety, solemnity, solemnness, staidness
- Antonyms
- facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, levity, lightheartedness, lightness, play, unseriousness
Other Physics Terms
Rhymes with GRAVITY
GRAVITY Defined for Kids
gravity
noun grav·i·ty \ˈgra-və-tē\
plural grav·i·ties
Definition of GRAVITY for Kids
1
: a force of attraction that tends to draw particles or bodies together
2
: the attraction of bodies by the force of gravity toward the center of the earth
3
: great seriousness
Word Root of GRAVITY
The Latin word gravis, meaning “heavy” or “serious,” gives us the root grav. Words from the Latin gravis have something to do with heaviness or seriousness. Something grave, or important, such as a situation, requires serious thought and consideration. To aggravate is to make a situation more serious. Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the ground making it feel heavy.
Medical Dictionary
gravity
noun grav·i·ty \ˈgrav-ət-ē\
plural grav·i·ties
Medical Definition of GRAVITY
1
: weight 1—used chiefly in the phrase center of gravity
2
a : the gravitational attraction of the mass of the earth, the moon, or a planet for bodies at or near its surface; broadly : gravitation b : acceleration of gravity c : specific gravity
—gravity adjective
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