■ noun
1》 a very brief period of time.
↘an exact point in time.
2》 formal importance; significance.
3》 Physics a turning effect produced by a force on an object, expressed as the product of the force and the distance from its line of action to a given point.
Phrases
( at ) any ~ very soon.
for the ~ for now.
have one's (or its ) ~s have periods that are better than others.
~ of truth a time of crisis or test. [orig. the final sword-thrust in a bullfight.]
of the ~ currently popular, famous, or important.
Origin
ME: from L. ~um (see ~um ).