The pendulum of a clock is a rod with a weight at the end which swings from side to side in order to make the clock work.
2. singular noun
You can use the idea of a pendulum and the way it swings regularly as a way of talking about regular changes in a situation or in people's opinions.
The pendulum has swung back and the American car companies have made dramatic advancesin safety.
The political pendulum has swung in favour of the liberals.
pendulum in British English
(ˈpɛndjʊləm)
noun
1.
a body mounted so that it can swing freely under the influence of gravity. It is either a bob hung on a light thread (simple pendulum) or a more complex structure (compound pendulum)
2.
such a device used to regulate a clockwork mechanism
3.
something that changes its position, attitude, etc fairly regularly
a body hung from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the combined forces of gravity and momentum: often used in regulating the movement of clocks
Derived forms
pendular (ˈpendular)
adjective
Word origin
ModL < neut. of L pendulus: see pendulous
Examples of 'pendulum' in a sentence
pendulum
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
The pendulum may be swinging too far.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is a pendulum swing and it is going to be positive for business.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The pendulum has swung back in time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An alternative method, in the case of pendulum clocks, is to stop the pendulum for an hour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The situation is not very different from that of a pendulum clock.
Barrow, John D. The Origin of the Universe (1995)
The political pendulum is beginning to swing the other way.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Today the pendulum is swinging back once more.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Both watches feature a bright red pendulum second hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They should not expect an early return swing of the pendulum.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This was so shocking to decent people that the pendulum swung back towards a kinder regime.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The pendulum may swing back the other way.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She must have been delighted that the academic pendulum is swinging back her way.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The good news is that the pendulum has to swing back.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Perhaps the pendulum is swinging back as voters seek economic policies that favour growth and jobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now there are signs of a pendulum swing in the other direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Evolution has argued that the regulatory pendulum has swung back toward promoting infrastructure investment and supporting increases to access prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Now the pendulum is swinging again.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So the pendulum swung back again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Expect pendulum to swing back shortly.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the pendulum has swung back.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Not so long ago, the pendulum of public opinion was swinging towards social acceptability.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Last week the political pendulum appeared to swing back towards Cameron.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He would have benefited from the microscope, telescope, barometer and pendulum clock.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Not surprisingly, there too the new system was based on the second 's pendulum.
Andro Linklater MEASURING AMERICA (2002)
By the close of the 1960s, a great swing of the pendulum was in the making.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
When you first make up your pendulum, use at least a yard of thread - two yards if you have it.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
In other languages
pendulum
British English: pendulum NOUN
The pendulum of a clock is a rod with a weight at the end which swings from side to side in order to make the clock work.
American English: pendulum
Brazilian Portuguese: pêndulo
Chinese: 钟摆
European Spanish: péndulo
French: balancier
German: Pendel
Italian: pendolo
Japanese: >振り子時計の
Korean: 추
European Portuguese: pêndulo
Latin American Spanish: péndulo
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All related terms of 'pendulum'
simple pendulum
a bob hung on a light thread , mounted so that it can swing freely under the influence of gravity .
complex pendulum
a complex structure mounted so that it can swing freely under the influence of gravity
compound pendulum
Physics See physical pendulum
Foucault pendulum
a pendulum consisting of a heavy weight on the end of a long wire hanging from a fixed point, of the kind invented by Jean Foucault to show that the earth is rotating : the pattern of the pendulum's swinging appears to be rotating to an observer
physical pendulum
any apparatus consisting of a body of possibly irregular shape allowed to rotate freely about a horizontal axis on which it is pivoted ( distinguished from simple pendulum )