Gravity is the force which causes things to drop to the ground.
Arrows would continue to fly forward forever were it not for gravity, which bringsthem down to earth.
2. See also centre of gravity
3. uncountable noun
The gravityof a situation or event is its extreme importance or seriousness.
They deserve punishment which matches the gravity of their crime. [+ of]
Not all acts of vengeance are of equal gravity.
4. uncountable noun
The gravity of someone's behaviour or speech is the extremely serious way in which they behave or speak.
There was an appealing gravity to everything she said.
Synonyms: solemnity, gloom, seriousness, gravitas More Synonyms of gravity
More Synonyms of gravity
gravity in British English
(ˈɡrævɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-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
Word origin
C16: from Latin gravitās weight, from gravis heavy
gravity in American English
(ˈgrævɪti)
nounWord forms: pluralˈgravities
1.
the state or condition of being grave
; esp.,
a.
solemnity or sedateness of manner or character; earnestness
b.
danger or threat; ominous quality
the gravity of his illness
c.
seriousness, as of a situation
2.
weight; heaviness
see also specific gravity, center of gravity
3.
lowness of musical pitch
4.
gravitation, esp. terrestrial gravitation; force that tends to draw all bodies in the earth's sphere toward the center of the earth
see also acceleration of gravity
adjective
5.
operated by the force of gravity
Word origin
L gravitas, weight, heaviness < gravis, heavy: see grave1
Examples of 'gravity' in a sentence
gravity
They apparently changed their minds because of the gravity of the situation and sent a helicopter instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
At least he fronts up to discuss it, an indication perhaps that Northampton now recognise the gravity of the situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is because weight measures the force of gravity on mass.
Andro Linklater MEASURING AMERICA (2002)
There should be no doubt about the gravity of the crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We are conscious of the gravity of the situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
From this he was able to predict the surface gravity on the moon.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
The power of logical thought and the force of gravity seemed alike to be suspended.
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
Their prison terms did not nearly reflect the potential gravity of the crime.
The Sun (2015)
The gravity of the situation is plain.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The field theory applies to other forces besides gravity.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
The gravity of the situation is now inescapable.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The force of gravity was pressing him to his seat so that his weight was beyond his strength to lift.
Len Deighton Bomber
The first one in a group called back to the Earth by gravity.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
When unemployment happens to you, it feels like the gravity of the situation is yours alone.
Ingham, Christine Life Without Work (1994)
The gravity of the situation across Nepal became clear after telephone calls to their families.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
When these elements collapse together under the force of gravity, stars are born.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
As the day wore on, the gravity of the situation became clear.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As far as the commercial broadcaster is concerned, the financial gravity of the scandal is only now apparent.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Right now they were headed away from it, being pulled by the gravity of earth into the proper path.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
An Apple has defied financial gravity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The court is expected to take account of the gravity of his crimes, his progress in custody and his mental health.
The Sun (2010)
More than half have been successfully diverted from crime altogether, and the gravity of the crimes committed by the others has been reduced.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Reports show that experts studied hours of lunar footage from the 1970s in an effort to learn more about the effects of moon gravity on humans.
Christianity Today (2000)
One source said: 'It just defied financial gravity.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The relative affluence of the South East appears to have increased and the centre of economic gravity may have moved further south.
Forrest, Ray & Murie, Alan & Williams, Peter Home-ownership - differentiation and fragmentation (1990)
In other languages
gravity
British English: gravity NOUN
Gravity is the force which causes things to drop to the ground.
Arrows would continue to fly forward forever in a straight line were it not for gravity, which brings them down to earth.
American English: gravity
Brazilian Portuguese: gravidade
Chinese: 地球引力
European Spanish: gravedad
French: gravité
German: Schwerkraft
Italian: forza di gravità
Japanese: 重力
Korean: 중력
European Portuguese: gravidade
Latin American Spanish: gravedad
All related terms of 'gravity'
gravity dam
a dam whose weight alone is great enough to prevent it from tipping over
gravity cell
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 fault
a fault in which the rocks on the upper side of an inclined fault plane have been displaced downwards ; normal fault
gravity scale
a scale giving the relative density of fluids
gravity wave
a surface wave on water or other liquid propagated because of the weight of liquid in the crests
zero gravity
the state or condition of weightlessness
gravity anomaly
a deviation from the normal value of gravity at the earth's surface, caused by density differences at depth , for example those caused by a buried mineral body
quantum gravity
a theory of the gravitational interaction that involves quantum mechanics to explain the force
gravity decanter
A gravity decanter is a vessel or stage in which two liquids of different densities are allowed to separate by gravity.
gravity platform
(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
specific gravity
the ratio of the density of a substance to that of water
API gravity scale
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 )–131.5, where d = relative density at 288.7 K
center of gravity
that point in a body or system around which its mass or weight is evenly distributed or balanced and through which the force of gravity acts
centre of gravity
The centre of gravity of an object is a point in it. If this point is above the base of the object, it stays stable , rather than falling over.
acceleration of gravity
the gravitational acceleration of a freely falling object, expressed in terms of the rate of increase of velocity per second : on earth 980.665 cm (32.17 ft) per second per second is the standard
acceleration due to gravity
the acceleration of a body falling freely in a vacuum near the surface of the earth in the earth's gravitational field : the standard value is 9.806 65 metres per second per second or 32.174 feet per second per second
anomaly
If something is an anomaly , it is different from what is usual or expected.
eccentric anomaly
something anomalous
magnetic anomaly
something anomalous
mean anomaly
something anomalous
true anomaly
something anomalous
Chinese translation of 'gravity'
gravity
(ˈɡrævɪtɪ)
n(u)
(Phys) 重力 (zhònglì)
(= seriousness) 严(嚴)重性 (yánzhòngxìng)
Seegram
1 (noun)
Definition
seriousness or importance
You don't seem to appreciate the gravity of this situation.
Synonyms
seriousness
the seriousness of the crisis
importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
consequence
This question is of little consequence.
significance
ideas about the social significance of religion
urgency
It is a matter of utmost urgency.
severity
acuteness
the acuteness of the crisis in the housing market
moment
I was glad I had nothing of great moment to do that afternoon.
weightiness
momentousness
perilousness
hazardousness
Opposites
insignificance
,
triviality
,
unimportance
,
inconsequentiality
2 (noun)
Definition
seriousness or solemnity of appearance or behaviour
There was an appealing gravity to everything she said.
Synonyms
solemnity
the solemnity of the occasion
gloom
the deepening gloom over the economy
seriousness
They had shown a commitment and a seriousness of purpose.
gravitas
a figure with all the gravitas you might expect of a Booker prize winner
thoughtfulness
grimness
dignity
Everyone admired her extraordinary dignity and composure.
sobriety
the values society depends upon, such as honesty, sobriety and trust
earnestness
He spoke with intense earnestness.
Opposites
joy
,
happiness
,
gaiety
,
frivolity
,
merriment
,
levity
,
flippancy
,
thoughtlessness
related words
related phobiabarophobia
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acuteness
the acuteness of the crisis in the housing market
Synonyms
seriousness,
danger,
importance,
gravity,
urgency,
severity,
decisiveness,
suddenness,
dangerousness,
criticality,
essentiality,
cruciality,
criticalness,
vitalness
in the sense of consequence
Definition
significance or importance
This question is of little consequence.
Synonyms
importance,
interest,
concern,
moment,
value,
account,
note,
weight,
import (formal),
significance,
portent
in the sense of dignity
Definition
serious, calm, and controlled behaviour or manner
Everyone admired her extraordinary dignity and composure.