Gravitation
[grævɪ'teɪʃ(ə)n] or [,ɡrævɪ'teʃən]
Definition
(noun.) a figurative movement toward some attraction; 'the gravitation of the middle class to the suburbs'.
(noun.) movement downward resulting from gravitational attraction; 'irrigation by gravitation rather than by pumps'.
Checker: Rowena--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The act of gravitating.
(n.) That species of attraction or force by which all bodies or particles of matter in the universe tend toward each other; called also attraction of gravitation, universal gravitation, and universal gravity. See Attraction, and Weight.
Editor: Spence
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Gravity, centripetal force, attraction of gravitation.
Inputed by Barbara
Unserious Contents or Definition
n. The tendency of all bodies to approach one another with a strength proportion to the quantity of matter they contain— the quantity of matter they contain being ascertained by the strength of their tendency to approach one another. This is a lovely and edifying illustration of how science having made A the proof of B makes B the proof of A.
Edited by Clare
Examples
- Thus Galileo invented the telescope, and Newton discovered the law of gravitation. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- It was one of the great forces of nature, which we call gravitation, and the force which kept it in motion we call momentum. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The elements of a denser kind would, accord ing to the law of gravitation, attract matter of less specific gravity. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The discoveries of Ampère as to the laws of electricity have been likened to the discovery of Newton of the law of gravitation. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- But gravitation overcame momentum. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- When Newton thought of his theory of gravitation, the creative aspect of his thought was not found in its materials. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- I guarantee that when he sees the apple fall he shall EAT IT, instead of discovering the principle of gravitation. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Among the great _discoveries_ of the past are the attraction of gravitation, the laws of planetary motion, the circulation of the blood, and velocity of light. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- Discoveries;--Attraction of Gravitation; Planetary Motions; Circulation of Blood; Velocity of Light. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- While the Martians are immense, their bones are very large and they are muscled only in proportion to the gravitation which they must overcome. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
- By his discovery of the law of gravitation he completed the clear vision of the starry universe that we have to-day. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- He seemed to stand with a proper, rich weight on the face of the earth, whilst Birkin seemed to have the centre of gravitation in his own middle. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- It is also not unlikely that the pressure of gravitation takes part in rope making, by holding the fibers in close contact, even if we do not know how this force operates. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
Editor: Seth