energy

en·er·gy (

r-j

)

n. pl. en·er·gies

1. The capacity for work or vigorous activity; vigor; power. See Synonyms at strength.

a. Exertion of vigor or power: a project requiring a great deal of time and energy.

b. Vitality and intensity of expression: a speech delivered with energy and emotion.

a. Usable heat or power: Each year Americans consume a high percentage of the world's energy.

b. A source of usable power, such as petroleum or coal.

4. Physics The capacity of a physical system to do work.

[French énergie, from Late Latin energa, from Greek energeia, from energos, active : en-, in, at; see en-² + ergon, work; see werg- in Indo-European roots.]

energy

Noun

pl -gies

1. capacity for intense activity; vigour

2. intensity or vitality of action or expression; forcefulness

3. Physics the capacity to do work and overcome resistance

4. a source of power, such as electricity [Greek energeia activity]

energy (

r-j

)

The capacity or power to do work, such as the capacity to move an object (of a given mass) by the application of force. Energy can exist in a variety of forms, such as electrical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear, and can be transformed from one form to another. It is measured by the amount of work done, usually in joules or watts. See also conservation of energy kinetic energy potential energy Compare power work

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	energy - (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs; "energy can take a wide variety of forms" free energy natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy activation energy, energy of activation - the energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur; "catalysts are said to reduce the energy of activation during the transition phase of a reaction" alternative energy - energy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment atomic energy, nuclear energy - the energy released by a nuclear reaction binding energy, separation energy - the energy required to separate particles from a molecule or atom or nucleus; equals the mass defect chemical energy - that part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction electrical energy, electricity - energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity" energy level, energy state - a definite stable energy that a physical system can have; used especially of the state of electrons in atoms or molecules; "according to quantum theory only certain energy levels are possible" rest energy - the energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest in an inertial frame of reference; equal to the rest mass times the square of the speed of light work - (physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force; "work equals force times distance" heat, heat energy - a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature mechanical energy - energy in a mechanical form radiant energy - energy that is transmitted in the form of (electromagnetic) radiation; energy that exists in the absence of matter radiation - energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles
	2.	energy - forceful exertion; "he plays tennis with great energy"; "he's full of zip" vigor, vigour, zip forcefulness, strength, force - physical energy or intensity; "he hit with all the force he could muster"; "it was destroyed by the strength of the gale"; "a government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man" athleticism, strenuosity - intense energy; "his music is characterized by a happy athleticism"
	3.	energy - enterprising or ambitious drive; "Europeans often laugh at American energy" get-up-and-go, push drive - the trait of being highly motivated; "his drive and energy exhausted his co-workers" second wind - renewed energy or strength to continue an undertaking; "She had dinner and got a second wind to finish painting"; "the employers, initially taken by surprise at the pace of developments, regained their second wind"
	4.	energy - an imaginative lively style (especially style of writing); "his writing conveys great energy"; "a remarkable muscularity of style" vim, muscularity, vigor, vigour sprightliness, liveliness, spirit, life - animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it" verve, vitality - an energetic style
	5.	energy - a healthy capacity for vigorous activity; "jogging works off my excess energy"; "he seemed full of vim and vigor" vim, vitality good health, healthiness - the state of being vigorous and free from bodily or mental disease juice - energetic vitality; "her creative juices were flowing" ch'i, chi, ki, qi - the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body is believed to be essential for good health
	6.	energy - any source of usable power; "the DOE is responsible for maintaining the energy policy" physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy
	7.	Energy - the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977 Department of Energy, DOE, Energy Department executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States Department of Energy Intelligence, DOEI - an agency that collects political and economic and technical information about energy matters and makes the Department of Energy's technical and analytical expertise available to other members of the Intelligence Community