I. ˈvaky(əw)əm, -(ˌ)yüm noun
( plural vacuums -mz ; or vac·ua -_yəwə)
Etymology: Latin, from neuter of vacuus empty; akin to Latin vacare to be empty — more at vacant
1. : emptiness of space
flames … mounting on high into vacuum , into nonentity — William Blake
2.
a. : a space absolutely devoid of matter — opposed to plenum
b. : a space (as the interior of a closed vessel) partially exhausted (as to the highest degree possible) by an air pump or be any of various other artificial means
a reaction carried out in vacuum
c. : a degree of rarefaction below atmospheric pressure : negative pressure
a vacuum of two millimeters of mercury
pumps that pull too high a vacuum for gages to measure
spray milk under vacuum into a pan
3.
a. : an unfilled or empty space or extent : something devoid of content : void , gap
his death has left a vacuum in their lives
the music stopped and the voices rose into the vacuum it left — Hamilton Basso
b. : a state of isolation from outside influences or factors
people who live in a vacuum … so that the world outside them is of no moment — W.S.Maugham
4. : a device creating or utilizing a partial vacuum ; specifically : vacuum cleaner
II. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or associated with a vacuum or vacuum system
vacuum pressure
vacuum controls
vacuum hose
2. : used in producing a vacuum
vacuum equipment
vacuum sealing grease
3.
a.
(1) : partly exhausted of air or gas : containing a vacuum
a vacuum cylinder
a vacuum oven
(2) : made nonconducting by means of a vacuum ; especially : being or containing a usually glass vessel or casing with double walls enclosing a vacuum for temperature insulation (as of liquids)
a vacuum flask
a vacuum jug
vacuum -jacketed apparatus
a vacuum pitcher
b. : carried on under partial vacuum or by means of suction
vacuum distillation
vacuum metallurgy
vacuum spectroscopy
vacuum filling of milk bottles
c. : being or used in a canning, bottling, or packaging process in which much of the air in the container is extracted before sealing for better preservation of contents
vacuum canning
a vacuum jar
d. : mounted in a vacuum
a vacuum filament lamp
vacuum contacts
4. : being or incorporating a device producing a partial vacuum (as for drawing off or holding fast)
a vacuum dryer
a vacuum filter
a vacuum ash conveyer
a vacuum chuck for holding delicate materials on a lathe
a vacuum pad for hoisting concrete slabs
vacuum impregnating apparatus
5. : produced by a process utilizing a vacuum (as for evaporation)
vacuum salt
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to use a vacuum device upon
2. or vacuum-clean : to clean or remove by means of a vacuum cleaner
vacuum the rug
vacuum the crumbs
intransitive verb
1. : to operate a vacuum device (as a vacuum drier)
2. or vacuum-clean ˈ ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷, ˈ ̷ ̷(ˌ) ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ : to clean a surface with a vacuum cleaner
hired a woman to scrub, dust, and vacuum