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vacuum

Pronunciation: /ˈvakjʊəm/

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Definition of vacuum

noun (plural vacuums or vacua /-jʊə/)

  • 1a space entirely devoid of matter.
  • a space or container from which the air has been completely or partly removed.
  • [usually in singular] a gap left by the loss, death, or departure of someone or something significant:the political vacuum left by the death of the Emperor
  • 2 (plural vacuums) a vacuum cleaner.

verb

[with object]
  • clean with a vacuum cleaner:the room needs to be vacuumed

Phrases

in a vacuum

(of an activity or a problem to be considered) isolated from the normal context in which it can best be understood or assessed: professional training cannot take place in a vacuum

Origin:

mid 16th century: modern Latin, neuter of Latin vacuus 'empty'

Spelling help

Remember that vacuum is spelled with a double u. The plural can be spelled either vacuums or vacua (as in the original Latin).

vacuum in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of vacuum in the US English dictionary