suction
nounverbattested in dialogue
- //ˈsʌkʃən//
A force which pushes matter from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
noun
- 1
A force which pushes matter from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
- 2
A force holding two objects together because the pressure in the space between the items is lower than the pressure outside that space.
- 3
The process of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another.
The first-named group — the insects that live by suction — include the scale insects, aphides, and sucking bugs[…]
- 4
A device for removing saliva from a patient's mouth during dental operations, a saliva ejector.
- 5
informalinfluence; "pull".
He's got some kind of suction with the Mayor's office.
Etymology
From Latin sūctiō, sūctiōnem (whence -ion), attested since Late Latin and derived from sūctus, past participle of sūgō (“to suck”). Attested in English since the early 17th century.
verb
- 1
To create an imbalance in pressure between one space and another in order to draw matter between the spaces.
- 2
To draw out the contents of a space.
Forms
- plural
- suctions
- past tense
- suctioned
- past participle
- suctioned
- present participle
- suctioning
- third person singular
- suctions
suction · A force which pushes matter from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
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