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gravity

n pl , -ties

1 the force of attraction that moves or tends to move bodies towards the centre of a celestial body, such as the earth or moon

2 the property of being heavy or having weight
See also → specific gravity → centre of gravity

3 another name for → gravitation

4 seriousness or importance, esp. as a consequence of an action or opinion

5 manner or conduct that is solemn or dignified

6 lowness in pitch

7    modifier   of or relating to gravity or gravitation or their effects
gravity wave, gravity feed
     (C16: from Latin gravitas weight, from gravis heavy)

API gravity scale
      n   the American Petroleum Institute gravity scale: a universally accepted scale of the relative density of fluids that is used in fuel technology and is measured in degrees API. One degree API is equal to (141.5/d)--13.5, where d = relative density at 288.7K
   See also     →   Baumé scale

centre of gravity
n the point through which the resultant of the gravitational forces on a body always acts

gravity cell
n an electrolytic cell in which the electrodes lie in two different electrolytes, which are separated into two layers by the difference in their relative densities

gravity dam
n a dam whose weight alone is great enough to prevent it from tipping over

gravity fault
n a fault in which the rocks on the upper side of an inclined fault plane have been displaced downwards; normal fault

gravity platform
n (in the oil industry) a drilling platform that rests directly on the sea bed and is kept in position by its own weight; it is usually made of reinforced concrete

gravity scale
n See → API gravity scale

gravity wave
n (Physics)

1 a wave propagated in a gravitational field, predicted to occur as a result of an accelerating mass

2 a surface wave on water or other liquid propagated because of the weight of liquid in the crests, (Also called) gravitational wave

quantum gravity
n (Physics) a theory of the gravitational interaction that involves quantum mechanics to explain the force

specific gravity
      n   the ratio of the density of a substance to that of water
   See     →   relative density

zero gravity
n the state or condition of weightlessness

English Collins Dictionary - English Definition & Thesaurus

gravitation
n

1 the force of attraction that bodies exert on one another as a result of their mass

2    any process or result caused by this interaction, such as the fall of a body to the surface of the earth,   (Also called)    gravity             See also     →   Newton's law of gravitation
♦   gravitational      adj
♦   gravitationally      adv

centre of gravity
n the point through which the resultant of the gravitational forces on a body always acts

gravity
n pl , -ties

1 the force of attraction that moves or tends to move bodies towards the centre of a celestial body, such as the earth or moon

2 the property of being heavy or having weight
See also → specific gravity → centre of gravity

3 another name for → gravitation

4 seriousness or importance, esp. as a consequence of an action or opinion

5 manner or conduct that is solemn or dignified

6 lowness in pitch

7    modifier   of or relating to gravity or gravitation or their effects
gravity wave, gravity feed
     (C16: from Latin gravitas weight, from gravis heavy)

gravity cell
n an electrolytic cell in which the electrodes lie in two different electrolytes, which are separated into two layers by the difference in their relative densities

gravity dam
n a dam whose weight alone is great enough to prevent it from tipping over

gravity fault
n a fault in which the rocks on the upper side of an inclined fault plane have been displaced downwards; normal fault

gravity platform
n (in the oil industry) a drilling platform that rests directly on the sea bed and is kept in position by its own weight; it is usually made of reinforced concrete

gravity scale
n See → API gravity scale

gravity wave
n (Physics)

1 a wave propagated in a gravitational field, predicted to occur as a result of an accelerating mass

2 a surface wave on water or other liquid propagated because of the weight of liquid in the crests, (Also called) gravitational wave

quantum gravity
n (Physics) a theory of the gravitational interaction that involves quantum mechanics to explain the force

specific gravity
      n   the ratio of the density of a substance to that of water
   See     →   relative density

zero gravity
n the state or condition of weightlessness

English Collins Dictionary - English Definition & Thesaurus

gravity

1 acuteness, consequence, exigency, hazardousness, importance, moment, momentousness, perilousness, pressingness, seriousness, severity, significance, urgency, weightiness

2    demureness, dignity, earnestness, gloom, gravitas, grimness, reserve, sedateness, seriousness, sobriety, solemnity, thoughtfulness

Antonyms

1 inconsequentiality, insignificance, triviality, unimportance

2 flippancy, frivolity, gaiety, happiness, joy, levity, merriment, thoughtlessness

English Collins Dictionary - English synonyms & Thesaurus

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"Collins English Dictionary 5th Edition first published in 2000 © HarperCollins Publishers 1979, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000 and Collins A-Z Thesaurus 1st edition first published in 1995 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995"