- pronunciation:
- grae
v
ti
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
gravities |
| definition 1: |
Gravity is the force by which all objects in the universe are pulled toward each other.
On Earth, objects fall to the ground because of the pull of gravity.- synonyms:
- pull
- similar words:
- attraction
|
| definition 2: |
When a situation has gravity, it means that it is a very serious situation. When someone does something with gravity, it means that they do it with seriousness.
The doctor spoke with gravity to the family.- synonyms:
- consequence, importance, seriousness, significance
- similar words:
- graveness, magnitude, weight
|
| related words: |
consequence, emphasis |
The word
gravity comes from a Latin word that means "heavy." Its first meaning in English was "seriousness and dignity." It was first used as a scientific term for the force that causes objects to have weight in 1641. A year later, Sir Isaac Newton was born, and Galileo died.