momentum

 
Pronunciation: /məˈmɛntəm/

noun (plural momenta /-tə/)

[mass noun]
  • 1 Physics the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.
  • 2the impetus gained by a moving object: the vehicle gained momentum as the road dipped
  • the impetus and driving force gained by the development of a process or course of events: the investigation gathered momentum in the spring

Origin:

late 17th century: from Latin, from movimentum, from movere 'to move'