Definitions for pendulum
ˈpɛn dʒə ləm, ˈpɛn dyə-, -də-pen·du·lum

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.2 / 6 votes

1. pendulumnoun

   an apparatus consisting of an object mounted so that it swings freely under the influence of gravity

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.3 / 3 votes

1. pendulumnoun

   A body suspended from a fixed support so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices such as clocks.

2. Etymology: Neuter of pendulus, "hanging".

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pendulumnoun

   Any weight hung so as that it may easily swing backwards and forwards, of which the great law is, that its oscillations are always performed in equal time.

   Etymology: pendulus, Lat. pendule, Fr.

   Upon the bench I will so handle ’em,
   That the vibration of this pendulum
   Shall make all taylors yards of one
   Unanimous opinion. Hudibras.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pendulum

   A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position. When released, the restoring force acting on the pendulum's mass causes it to oscillate about the equilibrium position, swinging back and forth. The time for one complete cycle, a left swing and a right swing, is called the period. The period depends on the length of the pendulum and also to a slight degree on the amplitude, the width of the pendulum's swing. From the first scientific investigations of the pendulum around 1602 by Galileo Galilei, the regular motion of pendulums was used for timekeeping and was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the 1930s. The pendulum clock invented by Christiaan Huygens in 1658 became the world's standard timekeeper, used in homes and offices for 270 years, and achieved accuracy of about one second per year before it was superseded as a time standard by the quartz clock in the 1930s. Pendulums are also used in scientific instruments such as accelerometers and seismometers. Historically they were used as gravimeters to measure the acceleration of gravity in geo-physical surveys, and even as a standard of length. The word pendulum is new Latin, from the Latin pendulus, meaning hanging.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pendulumnoun

   a body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the movements of clockwork and other machinery

2. Etymology: [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See Pendulous.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pendulum

   A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position. When released, the restoring force combined with the pendulum's mass causes it to oscillate about the equilibrium position, swinging back and forth. The time for one complete cycle, a left swing and a right swing, is called the period. A pendulum swings with a specific period which depends on its length. From its discovery around 1602 by Galileo Galilei the regular motion of pendulums was used for timekeeping, and was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the 1930s. Pendulums are used to regulate pendulum clocks, and are used in scientific instruments such as accelerometers and seismometers. Historically they were used as gravimeters to measure the acceleration of gravity in geophysical surveys, and even as a standard of length. The word 'pendulum' is new Latin, from the Latin pendulus, meaning 'hanging'. The simple gravity pendulum is an idealized mathematical model of a pendulum. This is a weight on the end of a massless cord suspended from a pivot, without friction. When given an initial push, it will swing back and forth at a constant amplitude. Real pendulums are subject to friction and air drag, so the amplitude of their swings declines.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pendulum

   pen′dū-lum, n. any weight so hung from a fixed point as to swing freely: the swinging weight which regulates the movement of a clock: a lamp, &c., pendent from a ceiling: a guard-ring of a watch by which it is attached to a chain.—adj. Pen′dular, relating to a pendulum.—v.i. Pen′dulate, to swing, vibrate.—adjs. Pen′dulent, pendulous; Pen′duline, building a pendulous nest; Pen′dulous, hanging loosely: swinging freely, as the pensile nests of birds: (bot.) hanging downwards, as a flower on a curved stalk.—adv. Pen′dulously.—ns. Pen′dulousness, Pen′dulosity.—Pendulum wire, a kind of flat steel wire for clock pendulums.—Compensation pendulum, a pendulum so constructed that its rod is not altered in length by changes of temperature; Compound pendulum, every ordinary pendulum is compound, as differing from a Simple pendulum, which is a material point suspended by an ideal line; Invariable pendulum, a pendulum for carrying from station to station to be oscillated at each so as to fix the relative acceleration of gravity; Long and short pendulum, a pendulum for determining the absolute force of gravity by means of a bob suspended by a wire of varying length. [L., neut. of pendulus, hanging—pendēre, to hang.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pendulum

   A gravitating instrument for measuring the motion of a ship and thereby assisting the accuracy of her gunnery in regulating horizontal fire.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pendulum

   Song lyrics by pendulum -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by pendulum on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Apparatus

Anagrams for pendulum »

1. unplumed

2. unlumped

How to pronounce pendulum?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say pendulum in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pendulum in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pendulum in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of pendulum in a Sentence

1. Cameron Brandt:

   I think basically the pendulum has swung back to buying junk bonds because investors are not expecting a rate hike from the Federal Reserve in June.

2. Alessio Fasano:

   The pendulum was all the way to left, where before, the pioneer patients with celiac disease really had a hard time to survive, now. the pendulum is all the way to the right, where this is a fashionable diet.

3. Philipp Hildebrand:

   Alongside much (higher) levels of capital, a much longer list of requirements have been produced and I worry that they've switched the pendulum too far...and are unlikely to address the designated problems.

4. Many Democrats:

   My dear spouse used to say the true symbol of the US is not a bald eagle, it is the pendulum.

5. Brendon Moran:

   We've seen conditions that are almost too good to be true and I just sense that the push back from investors is coming and that lack of premiums on these deals will see the pendulum shift back towards the investor.

Popularity rank by frequency of use