pendulum
English edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from the neuter of Latin pendulus (“hanging”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
pendulum (plural pendulums or pendula) (See usage notes.)
- (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.
- (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.
- (by extension) The tendency of a situation to oscillate (between two extremes).
- A lamp, etc. suspended from a ceiling.
- 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
Related terms edit
Translations edit
body suspended from a fixed support
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See also edit
References edit
- “pendulum”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
Anagrams edit
Latin edit
Adjective edit
pendulum
- inflection of pendulus:
References edit
- pendulum in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)