quantum leap

English

Etymology

Possibly calque of Danish kvantespring.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwɒntəm liːp/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

quantum leap (plural quantum leaps)

1. (quantum mechanics) The discontinuous change of the state of an electron in an atom or molecule from one energy level to another.
2. (figurative) An abrupt, extreme change.
   • 2001, Helene Ciaravino, How to Pray: Tapping Into the Power of Divine Communication, page 33:

     In the end, perhaps the practice of prayer effects a quantum leap of its own kind. It takes us, spontaneously and unexplainably, into the realm of spiritual energy.

   • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Protheans: Beacon Codex entry:

     The beacon was a Prothean artifact unearthed on the Alliance colony of Eden Prime. Its resemblance to the Prothean data banks recovered on Mars provoked immediate interest from the Alliance and the Citadel Council. It proved to be a solid state data storage device, part of a galaxy-spanning comm network similar to the modern extranet. Intact Prothean 'paleo-technology' is rare; the beacon seemed to promise another quantum leap of technology, akin to the discovery of the mass effect drive and relays.

   • 2010 December 18, Tim Stevenson, “Opinion: Letters”, in New Scientist:

     However, if we reject any theory that falls short of this ideal, science will have to progress in quantum leaps, each with infinitesimal probability.

3. (figurative, informal, nonstandard) A large, massive, significant change.
   • 1993, Mr Burton, before the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Looking Back and Reaching Forward: Prospects for Democracy in Ethiopia : Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Second Congress, Second Session, September 17, 1992, page 56:

     I was at the elections in Namibia. We had problems there, [...] But I would say that this is a quantum leap forward when you think of the Mengistu government and the horrible repression, the famine, the tyranny that existed under him, and you see this movement toward freedom and democracy over there. Although there, admittedly, have been problems, this is a giant step in the right direction.

   • 1995, Eva Shaw, Eve of Destruction: Prophecies, Theories, and Preparations for the End of the World:

     A GIANT LEAP FORWARD
     Humanity is about to face a quantum leap forward. […]

   • 2010, Dan Wilson, Supernatural Marriage: The Joy of Spirit-Led Intimacy, page 187:

     The addition of power from God through connectedness with the Holy Spirit results in a quantum leap in our ability to accomplish the will of God in our daily lives.

Synonyms

• quantum jump

Coordinate terms

• step change
• paradigm shift

Related terms

• quantum entanglement
• quantum mechanics
• quantum physics
• quantum superposition
• quantum theory
• quantum tunneling

 

Translations

electron's state of change

• Danish: kvantespring n
• Esperanto: kvantuma salto
• Finnish: kvanttihyppy
• French: saut quantique (fr) m
• German: Quantensprung (de) m
• Italian: salto quantico m
• Norwegian: kvantesprang n
• Russian: ква́нтовый скачо́к m (kvántovyj skačók)
• Swedish: kvantsprång n

abrupt change

• Esperanto: kvantuma salto
• Finnish: hyppäys
• German: Quantensprung (de) m
• Hebrew: קפיצת מדרגה f
• Norwegian: kvantesprang n
• Spanish: salto cuántico m
• Swedish: kvantsprång n

Further reading

• atomic electron transition on Wikipedia.Wikipedia