vacuum

/ˈvækjuːm/VA-kyoom

/ˈvækjum/VA-kyoom

Meaningemptiness

Common meaning: a space with nothing in it

vacuto be emptyLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1950 · scan
umLatin neuter ending

Journey through time

Latinvacō; vacuus‘to be empty’
Englishvacuum‘a space with nothing in it’ · today

vacu also in: void avoid vacant evacuate vacation

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin vacō; vacuus ‘to be empty’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry vacō, p. 1950 · dictionary scan

Roots

vacō; vacuus Latin “to be empty”

Related words

avoid evacuate vacant vacation void

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