pendulum

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

[edit]

Borrowed from the neuter of Latin pendulus (hanging).

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈpɛnd͡ʒələm/
  • US (some regions): IPA(key): /ˈpɪnd͡ʒələm/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

[edit]

pendulum (plural pendulums or pendula) (See usage notes.)

  1. (clocks, mechanics) A body suspended from a fixed support so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices such as clocks.
    1. (by extension) The tendency of a situation to oscillate (between two extremes).
      • 2021 October 20, Industry Insider, “The wheels turn slowly”, in RAIL, number 942, page 68:
        The pendulum can be seen to be swinging in favour of rail, as with each issue of RAIL comes news of further intermodal service expansion.
  2. A lamp, etc. suspended from a ceiling.
  3. A watch's guard-ring by which it is attached to a chain.

Usage notes

[edit]
  • The plural form pendula is significantly rarer than pendulums; see etymology at pendula for details. However, pendula is occasionally used in physics.

Derived terms

[edit]
[edit]

Translations

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Anagrams

[edit]

Latin

[edit]

Adjective

[edit]

pendulum

  1. inflection of pendulus:
    1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular
    2. accusative masculine singular

References

[edit]