Gravity
['grævɪtɪ] or ['ɡrævəti]
Definition
(noun.) a solemn and dignified feeling.
(noun.) (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface; 'the more remote the body the less the gravity'; 'the gravitation between two bodies is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them'; 'gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love'--Albert Einstein.
Checked by Hayes--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) The state of having weight; beaviness; as, the gravity of lead.
(a.) Sobriety of character or demeanor.
(a.) Importance, significance, dignity, etc; hence, seriousness; enormity; as, the gravity of an offense.
(a.) The tendency of a mass of matter toward a center of attraction; esp., the tendency of a body toward the center of the earth; terrestrial gravitation.
(a.) Lowness of tone; -- opposed to acuteness.
Inputed by Elizabeth
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Heaviness, weight.[2]. Gravitation, centripetal force, attraction of gravitation.[3]. Sobriety, seriousness, sedateness, thoughtfulness, demureness.[4]. Importance, moment.
Checked by Andrew
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See WEIGHTY_and_SOLEMNITY]
Edited by Caleb
Definition
n. weightiness: that attraction between bodies or acceleration of one toward another of which the fall of a body to the ground is an example: state of being grave or sober: relative importance: (mus.) lowness of a note.—n. Gravim′eter an instrument for determining specific gravities.—v.i. Grav′itāte to be acted on by gravity: to tend towards the earth: to be strongly attracted towards anything.—n. Gravitā′tion act of gravitating: the tendency of all bodies to attract each other.—adj. Grav′itātive.—Specific gravity (see Specific).
Editor: Nat
Examples
- The centre of gravity of Islam shifted across the desert from Damascus to Mesopotamia. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- But all power of a high order depends on an understanding of the essential character, or law, of heat, light, sound, gravity, and the like. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- Their eyes met, but with a strange questioning gravity. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Other writers, of a different stamp, with great learning and gravity, endeavoured to prove to the English people that slavery was _jure divino_. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- Resuming his usual gravity, he went on: I received by this evening's post a note from the Home Secretary in answer to mine. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- One of the best-known cells in which weakening of the current is prevented by chemical means is the so-called gravity cell. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- He does this strange prospecting with an amount of gravity that can never be estimated or appreciated by a man who has not seen the operation. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- There, that'll do: don't yer be too affectionate, in case I'm cross with yer,' said Noah, disengaging himself with great gravity. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Queer, Sammy, queer,' replied the elder Mr. Weller, with impressive gravity. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- After loading the pawls are tripped, and the greater gravity of the counterweight raises the gun to firing position again. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Dependable within the gravity of the situation. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- This, my dear, said George with great gravity, is my very good, kind, and excellent friend, Auralia Margaretta, otherwise called Peggy. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- The device is so arranged that the air current is caused to take either direction through the tube; and in some instances gravity may be used to assist a vacuum formed behind the carrier. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- There was a moment of great gravity. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Merely to the illustration of _your_ character, said she, endeavouring to shake off her gravity. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
Edited by Gertrude