Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Momentum
1.
(Mech.)
The quantity of motion in a moving body, being always proportioned to the quantity of matter multiplied by the velocity; impetus.
2.
Essential element, or constituent element.
I shall state the several
momenta
of the distinction in separate propositions. Sir W. Hamilton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Momentum
MOMENT'UM
,Noun.
Definition 2024
momentum
momentum
English
Noun
momentum (plural momentums or momenta)
- (physics) (of a body in motion) The tendency of a body to maintain its inertial motion; the product of its mass and velocity.
- The impetus, either of a body in motion, or of an idea or course of events. (i.e: a moment)
- 1843, Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Old Apple Dealer", in Mosses from an Old Manse
- The travellers swarm forth from the cars. All are full of the momentum which they have caught from their mode of conveyance.
- 1882, Thomas Hardy, Two on a Tower
- Their intention to become husband and wife, at first halting and timorous, had accumulated momentum with the lapse of hours, till it now bore down every obstacle in its course.
- 2013 September 14, Jane Shilling, “The Golden Thread: the Story of Writing, by Ewan Clayton, review [print edition: Illuminating language]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review), page R29:
- Though his account of written communication over the past 5,000 years necessarily has a powerful forward momentum, his diversions down the fascinating byways of the subject are irresistible ...
- 1843, Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Old Apple Dealer", in Mosses from an Old Manse
Derived terms
Translations
product of mass and velocity
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impetus, either of a body in motion, or of an idea or course of events
See also
Latin
Etymology
From *movimentum, from moveō (“move, set in motion; excite”) + -mentum (“suffix used to forming nouns from verbs”).
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /moːˈmen.tum/, [moːˈmɛn.tũ]
Noun
mōmentum n (genitive mōmentī); second declension
- movement, motion, impulse; course
- change, revolution, movement, disturbance
- particle, part, point
- (of time) brief space, moment, short time
- cause, circumstance; weight, influence, moment
- importance
- (New Latin, physics) momentum
Inflection
Second declension.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | mōmentum | mōmenta |
| genitive | mōmentī | mōmentōrum |
| dative | mōmentō | mōmentīs |
| accusative | mōmentum | mōmenta |
| ablative | mōmentō | mōmentīs |
| vocative | mōmentum | mōmenta |
Derived terms
Terms derived from momentum
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Descendants
References
- momentum in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- momentum in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- MOMENTUM in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
- Félix Gaffiot (1934), “momentum”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
- Meissner, Carl; Auden, Henry William (1894) Latin Phrase-Book, London: Macmillan and Co.
- at the important moment: momento temporis
- important results are often produced by trivial causes: ex parvis saepe magnarum rerum momenta pendent
- to be of great (no) importance: magni (nullius) momenti esse
- to determine the issue of; to turn the scale: momentum afferre ad aliquid
- at the important moment: momento temporis