ˈvækjuəm n. & v. --n. (pl. vacuums or vacua) 1 a
space entirely devoid of
matter. 2 a space or
vessel from which the air has been completely or
partly removed by a pump etc. 3 a the
absence of the
normal or
previous content of a
place,
environment, etc. b the absence of former circumstances, activities, etc. 4 (pl. vacuums) colloq. a vacuum
cleaner. 5 a
decrease of
pressure below the normal atmospheric
value. --v. colloq. 1 tr.
clean with a vacuum cleaner. 2 intr.
use a vacuum cleaner. øvacuum
brake a brake in which pressure is caused by the
exhaustion of air. vacuum-clean clean with a vacuum cleaner. vacuum cleaner an
apparatus for removing
dust etc. by
suction. vacuum
flask Brit. a vessel with a
double wall enclosing a vacuum so
that the
liquid in the
inner receptacle retains
its temperature. vacuum
gauge a gauge for testing the pressure
after the
production of a vacuum. vacuum-packed sealed after the
partial removal of air. vacuum pump a pump for producing a vacuum. vacuum
tube a tube with a near-vacuum for the
free passage of
electric current. [mod.L, neut. of L vacuus empty]
