GRAVITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gravity mean? 

• GRAVITY (noun)
  The noun GRAVITY has 3 senses:

1. (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface

2. a manner that is serious and solemn

3. a solemn and dignified feeling

  Familiarity information: GRAVITY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRAVITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

gravitation; gravitational attraction; gravitational force; gravity

Context example:

gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love

Hypernyms ("gravity" is a kind of...):

attraction; attractive force (the force by which one object attracts another)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gravity"):

solar gravity (the gravity of the sun)

Derivation:

gravitate (move due to the pull of gravitation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A manner that is serious and solemn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

graveness; gravity; soberness; sobriety; somberness; sombreness

Hypernyms ("gravity" is a kind of...):

earnestness; serious-mindedness; seriousness; sincerity (the trait of being serious)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gravity"):

stodginess; stuffiness (dull and pompous gravity)

Derivation:

grave (of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought)

grave (dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A solemn and dignified feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

gravity; solemnity

Hypernyms ("gravity" is a kind of...):

feeling (the experiencing of affective and emotional states)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gravity"):

earnestness; seriousness; sincerity (an earnest and sincere feeling)

Antonym:

levity (feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness)

 Context examples 

This particular energy range offers astronomers a detailed look at what is happening near the event horizon, the region around a black hole from which light can no longer escape gravity's grasp.

(NuSTAR sees rare blurring of black hole light, NASA)

My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon his face.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Pulled by the Sun's gravity, the object made a hairpin turn under our solar system, passing under Earth's orbit on Oct. 14 at a distance of about 15 million miles (24 million kilometers).

(Small Asteroid or Comet 'Visits' from Beyond the Solar System, NASA)

Only the gravity of the star prevents this from happening.

(Hubble Views Final Stages of a Star’s Life, ESA/NASA)

That means the surface gravity on this planet would be significantly higher than on our planet.

(Hubble Finds Water Vapor on Habitable-Zone Exoplanet for 1st Time, NASA)

Then, turning to the other two, he said with intense gravity:—I want your permission to do what I think good this night.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

There was a fine, massive gravity in his face, I did not venture to disturb.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Proxima B is believed roughly Earth-sized and in its solar system's habitable zone, meaning it would have similar gravity to Earth and at least the possibility of liquid water.

(Simulations show planet orbiting Proxima Centauri could have liquid water, Wikinews)

In general, because of its larger size and higher gravity, about twenty asteroids strike Earth for every one that strikes the Moon, though large impacts on either body are rare.

(Moon Data Sheds Light on Earth’s Asteroid Impact History, NASA)

A process that fills a dosage unit with a powder by volume using gravity flow, which is not performed under sterile conditions.

(Non-Sterile Volumetric Powder Filling Method, NCI Thesaurus)