vacuum

• n. 真空；空间；真空吸尘器
• adj. 真空的；利用真空的；产生真空的
• vt. 用真空吸尘器清扫

词源同vacant,空着的，用于指真空。

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.

元帅迈过真空吸尘器，脚步沉重地走出了房间。

来自柯林斯例句

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

真空包装的火腿片应在食用前30分钟把包装除去。

来自柯林斯例句

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

这支军队的溃败使这个地区出现了军事真空。

来自柯林斯例句

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

他能听到真空吸尘器的嗡嗡声。

来自柯林斯例句

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

我们生活在与世隔绝的环境里——没有其他生物，收不到外界消息，也没有书看。

来自柯林斯例句