| 释义 |
vac·u·um
I. \ˈvaky(əw)əm, -(ˌ)yüm\ noun
(plural vacuums \-mz\ ; or vac·ua \-_yəwə\)
Etymology: Latin, from neuter of vacuus empty; akin to Latin vacare to be empty — more at vacant
1. : emptiness of space
< flames … mounting on high into vacuum, into nonentity — William Blake >
2.
a. : a space absolutely devoid of matter — opposed to plenum
b. : a space (as the interior of a closed vessel) partially exhausted (as to the highest degree possible) by an air pump or be any of various other artificial means
< a reaction carried out in vacuum >
c. : a degree of rarefaction below atmospheric pressure : negative pressure
< a vacuum of two millimeters of mercury >
< pumps that pull too high a vacuum for gages to measure >
< spray milk under vacuum into a pan >
3.
a. : an unfilled or empty space or extent : something devoid of content : void, gap
< his death has left a vacuum in their lives >
< the music stopped and the voices rose into the vacuum it left — Hamilton Basso >
b. : a state of isolation from outside influences or factors
< people who live in a vacuum … so that the world outside them is of no moment — W.S.Maugham >
4. : a device creating or utilizing a partial vacuum; specifically : vacuum cleaner
II. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or associated with a vacuum or vacuum system
< vacuum pressure >
< vacuum controls >
< vacuum hose >
2. : used in producing a vacuum
< vacuum equipment >
< vacuum sealing grease >
3.
a.
(1) : partly exhausted of air or gas : containing a vacuum
< a vacuum cylinder >
< a vacuum oven >
(2) : made nonconducting by means of a vacuum; especially : being or containing a usually glass vessel or casing with double walls enclosing a vacuum for temperature insulation (as of liquids)
< a vacuum flask >
< a vacuum jug >
< vacuum-jacketed apparatus >
< a vacuum pitcher >
b. : carried on under partial vacuum or by means of suction
< vacuum distillation >
< vacuum metallurgy >
< vacuum spectroscopy >
< vacuum filling of milk bottles >
c. : being or used in a canning, bottling, or packaging process in which much of the air in the container is extracted before sealing for better preservation of contents
< vacuum canning >
< a vacuum jar >
d. : mounted in a vacuum
< a vacuum filament lamp >
< vacuum contacts >
4. : being or incorporating a device producing a partial vacuum (as for drawing off or holding fast)
< a vacuum dryer >
< a vacuum filter >
< a vacuum ash conveyer >
< a vacuum chuck for holding delicate materials on a lathe >
< a vacuum pad for hoisting concrete slabs >
< vacuum impregnating apparatus >
5. : produced by a process utilizing a vacuum (as for evaporation)
< vacuum salt >
III. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
transitive verb
1. : to use a vacuum device upon
2. or vacuum-clean : to clean or remove by means of a vacuum cleaner
< vacuum the rug >
< vacuum the crumbs >
intransitive verb
1. : to operate a vacuum device (as a vacuum drier)
2. or vacuum-clean \ˈ ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷, ˈ ̷ ̷(ˌ) ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\ : to clean a surface with a vacuum cleaner
< hired a woman to scrub, dust, and vacuum > |