Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Moment

Mo′ment

,
Noun.
[F.
moment
, L.
momentum
, for
movimentum
movement, motion, moment, fr.
movere
to move. See
Move
, and cf.
Momentum
,
Movement
.]
1.
A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant;
as, at that very
moment
.
In a
moment
, in the twinkling of an eye.
1 Cor. xv. 52.
2.
Impulsive power; force; momentum.
The
moments
or quantities of motion in bodies.
Berkley.
Touch, with lightest
moment
of impulse,
His free will.
Milton.
3.
Importance, as in influence or effect; consequence; weight or value; consideration.
Matters of great
moment
.
Shakespeare
It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less
moment
and consequence of us than the others.
Bentley.
4.
An essential element; a deciding point, fact, or consideration; an essential or influential circumstance.
5.
(Math.)
An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement.
[Obs.]
6.
(Mech.)
Tendency, or measure of tendency, to produce motion, esp. motion about a fixed point or axis.
Moment of a couple
(Mech.)
,
the product of either of its forces into the perpendicular distance between them.
–
Moment of a force
.
(Mech.)
(a)
With respect to a point
,
the product of the intensity of the force into the perpendicular distance from the point to the line of direction of the force
.
(b)
With respect to a line
,
the product of that component of the force which is perpendicular to the plane passing through the line and the point of application of the force, into the shortest distance between the line and this point
.
(c)
With respect to a plane that is parallel to the force
,
the product of the force into the perpendicular distance of its point of application from the plane.
–
Moment of inertia
,
of a rotating body, the sum of the mass of each particle of matter of the body into the square of its distance from the axis of rotation; – called also
moment of rotation
and
moment of the mass
.
–
Statical moment
,
the product of a force into its leverage; the same as
moment of a force
with respect to a point, line, etc.
–
Virtual moment
.
See under
Virtual
.
Syn. – Instant; twinkling; consequence; weight; force; value; consideration; signification; avail.

Webster 1828 Edition

Moment

MO'MENT

,
Noun.
[L. momentum. This word is contracted from motamentum, or some other word,the radical verb of which signified to move, rush, drive or fall suddenly, which sense gives that of force. The sense of an instant of time is from falling or rushing, which accords well with that of meet.]
1.
The most minute and indivisible part of time; an instant.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Cor.15.
2.
Force; impulsive power.
--Touch with lightest moment of impulse,
His free will.
Little used; but hence,
3.
Importance in influence or effect; consequence; weight or value.
It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less moment to us than the others.

Definition 2024

Moment

Moment

See also: moment

German

Noun

Moment m ‎(genitive Moments or Momentes, plural Momente)

  1. moment
Declension
Derived terms

See also

Etymology 2

Noun

Moment n ‎(genitive Moments or Momentes, plural Momente)

  1. (physics) momentum
Declension

moment

moment

See also: Moment

English

Noun

moment ‎(plural moments)

  1. A brief, unspecified amount of time.
    Wait a moment, while I lock the front door.‎
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 5, in The Celebrity:
      Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps, […] , and the light of the reflector fell full upon her.
    • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 6, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:
      Sophia broke down here. Even at this moment she was subconsciously comparing her rendering of the part of the forlorn bride with Miss Marie Lohr's.
    • 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the profound meets the profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:
      Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself.
  2. The smallest portion of time; an instant.
    • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 5, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
      Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.
  3. Weight or importance.
  4. (physics, mechanics) The turning effect of a force applied to a rotational system at a distance from the axis of rotation. Also called moment of force.
  5. (historical) A definite period of time, specifically one-tenth of a point, or one-fortieth or one-fiftieth of an hour.
  6. (informal) A petit mal episode; such a spell.
  7. (colloquial) A fit, a short-duration tantrum, a hissy.
  8. (mathematics) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement.
  9. (mathematics) A quantitative measure of the shape of a set of points.
    If the points represent mass, then the zeroth moment is the total mass, the first moment divided by the total mass is the center of mass, and the second moment is the rotational inertia.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: cannot · father · nor · #226: moment · however · enough · quite

Anagrams

References

  • 1897 Universal Dictionary of the English Language, v 3 p 3174. ("The smallest portion of time; an instant." is a direct quote from this Dictionary.)

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin mōmentum.

Noun

moment m ‎(plural moments)

  1. moment (specific instant or time)
    • […] el català, malgrat tot, viu un moment de glòria efímera durant els darrers anys del segle XVIII i primers del XIX.
      Catalan, in spite of everything, had a moment of glory for the last years of the 18th Century and the first ones of the 19th.

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ɛnt

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin momentum.

Noun

moment n ‎(plural momenten, diminutive momentje n)

  1. moment (very brief period of time)

French

Etymology

From Latin mōmentum.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mɔmɑ̃/

Noun

moment m ‎(plural moments)

  1. moment (point in time)
  2. moment (short period of time)
  3. a while
    Ça fait un moment que je l'attends‎
    I've been waiting for him for a while
  4. (physics, mechanics) moment, momentum

Derived terms

See also

Friulian

Etymology

From Latin mōmentum.

Noun

moment m ‎(plural moments)

  1. moment, instant

Polish

Pronunciation

Noun

moment m inan

  1. (physics) moment
    moment bezwładności – moment of inertia
    moment gnący / moment zginający – bending moment
    moment pędu – angular momentum, moment of momentum
    moment siły – moment of force
    moment skręcający – twisting moment

Declension

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowing from French moment, from Latin momentum.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [moˈment]

Noun

moment n ‎(plural momente)

  1. moment (brief period of time) (clarification of this Romanian definition is being sought)

Declension

See also

Etymology

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /moˈmɛnt/
  • Rhymes: -ɛnt

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