vacuum

• n. 真空；空間；真空吸塵器
• adj. 真空的；利用真空的；產生真空的
• vt. 用真空吸塵器清掃

詞源同vacant,空著的，用於指真空。

vacuum (v.)

"to clean with a vacuum cleaner," 1919, from vacuum (n.). Related: Vacuumed; vacuuming.

vacuum (n.)

1540s, "emptiness of space," from Latin vacuum "an empty space, vacant place, a void," noun use of neuter of vacuus "empty, unoccupied, devoid of," figuratively "free, unoccupied," related to vacare "be empty" (see vain). Properly a loan-translation of Greek kenon, literally "that which is empty." Meaning "a space emptied of air" is attested from 1650s. Vacuum tube "glass thermionic device" is attested from 1859. Vacuum cleaner is from 1903; shortened form vacuum (n.) first recorded 1910.

The metaphysicians of Elea, Parmenides and Melissus, started the notion that a vacuum was impossible, and this became a favorite doctrine with Aristotle. All the scholastics upheld the maxim that "nature abhors a vacuum." [Century Dictionary]

1. The Marshal stepped over the vacuum-cleaner and stumped out of the room.

元帥邁過真空吸塵器，腳步沉重地走出了房間。

來自柯林斯例句

2. Vacuum-packed ham slices should be unwrapped 30 minutes before serving.

真空包裝的火腿片應在食用前30分鍾把包裝除去。

來自柯林斯例句

3. The collapse of the army left a vacuum in the area.

這支軍隊的潰敗使這個地區出現了軍事真空。

來自柯林斯例句

4. He could hear the whirr of a vacuum cleaner.

他能聽到真空吸塵器的嗡嗡聲。

來自柯林斯例句

5. We lived in a vacuum — no life, no news, no books.

我們生活在與世隔絕的環境裏——沒有其他生物，收不到外界消息，也沒有書看。

來自柯林斯例句