From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Vacuum \Vac"u*um\, noun; pl. E. {Vacuums}, L. {Vacua}. [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.
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.
{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 glass tube provided with platinum electrodes and exhausted, for the passage of the electrical discharge; a Geissler tube.
{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}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
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.]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: the absence of matter [syn: {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}]
3: a region empty of matter [syn: {vacuity}]
4: an electrical home appliance that cleans by suction [syn: {vacuum cleaner}]
verb
1: clean with a vacuum cleaner; "vacuum the carpets" [syn: {vacuum-clean}, {hoover}] [also: {vacua} (pl)]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
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
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