| Title | gravity |
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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary grav·i·ty (plural -ties) USAGE often attributive ETYMOLOGY Middle French or Latin; Middle French gravité,from Latin gravitat-, gravitas, from gravis DATE 1505 1. a. dignity or sobriety of bearing b. importance , significance ; especially : seriousness c. a serious situation or problem 2. weight 3. a. (1) the gravitational attraction of the mass of the earth, the moon, or a planet for bodies at or near its surface (2) a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions which occur because of mass between particles, between aggregations of matter (as stars and planets), and between particles (as photons) and aggregations of matter, that is 1039 times weaker than the strong force, and that extends over infinite distances but is dominant over macroscopic distances especially between aggregations of matter — called also gravitation, gravitational force — compare electromagnetism 2a, strong force, weak force b. acceleration of gravity c. specific gravity English Etymology gravity 1509, "weight, dignity, seriousness," from L. gravitatem (nom.gravitas) "weight, heaviness, pressure," from gravis "heavy" (see grave (adj.)). The scientific sense of "force that gives weight to objects" first recorded 1641. Gravitate is first recorded 1692. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 gravity grav·ity / 5^rAvEti / noun[U] 1. (abbr. g) the force that attracts objects in space towards each other, and that on the earth pulls them towards the centre of the planet, so that things fall to the ground when they are dropped 重力；地球引力: Newton's law of gravity 牛顿万有引力定律 ⇨ see also centre of gravity 2. (formal) extreme importance and a cause for worry 严重性 SYN seriousness :
I don't think you realise the gravity of the situation. 我认为你没有意识到形势的严重性。 Punishment varies according to the gravity of the offence. 处罚根据罪行的严重程度而有所不同。 3. (formal) serious behaviour, speech or appearance 严肃；庄严: They were asked to behave with the gravity that was appropriate in a court of law. 他们被要求在法庭上表现出应有的严肃态度。 ⇨ see also grave ¹Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English gravity noun 1 natural force ADJ. weak, zero the weak gravity on the moon | strong VERB + GRAVITY be subject to All objects are subject to gravity. | defy The building leans so much that it seems to defy gravity. PREP. by ~ The water flows from the tank by gravity to the houses below. PHRASES centre of gravity (often figurative) Europe's economic centre of gravity shifted northwards. | the force of gravity, the law/laws of gravity 2 seriousness ADJ. extreme I don't think you realize the extreme gravity of this offence. VERB + GRAVITY appreciate, realize, understand PREP. with ~ Criminal law does not treat traffic offences with the gravity they deserve. Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged grav·i·ty I. \ˈgravəd.ē, -ətē, -i\ noun (-es) Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French gravité, from Latin gravitat-, gravitas, from gravis heavy, grave + -tat-, -tas -ty — more at grieve 1. : the quality or state of being grave: as a. : sobriety or seriousness of character or demeanor < men of gravity and learning — Shakespeare > b. : importance , significance , dignity ; especially : seriousness < the gravity of an offense > c. obsolete : influence , authoritativeness d. obsolete — used as a title of respect or honor e. : solemnity < the gravity of the ceremony > 2. archaic : something serious : a matter of importance 3. : ponderability 4. : weight , heaviness — now used chiefly in the phrase center of gravity5. [New Latin gravitas, from Latin] a. : terrestrial gravitation : the gravitational attraction of the earth's mass for bodies at or near its surface as modified by the centrifugal force due to the earth's rotation; broadly : gravitation b. : acceleration of gravity c. : specific gravity II. adjective 1. : using gravity : working or operated by gravity < gravity irrigation > 2. : utilizing thermal convection currents instead of a fluid circulated by mechanical means < a gravity hot-air heating system > < gravity ventilation > III. noun : a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions between particles, between aggregations of matter (as stars and planets), and between aggregations of matter and particles (as photons) which occur because of mass, that is 1039 times weaker than the strong force and is the weakest fundamental physical force, and that extends over infinite distances but because of its weakness is evident only over large distances especially between aggregations of matter — called also gravitational forcegravitational interaction — compare electromagnetism hereinstrong force herein weak force herein |
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