pendulum

pen·du·lum  (pnj-lm, pndy-, pnd-)

n.

1. 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, especially clocks. Also called simple pendulum.

2. Something that swings back and forth from one course, opinion, or condition to another: the pendulum of public opinion.

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[New Latin, probably from Italian pendolo, pendulous, pendulum, from Latin pendulus, hanging; see pendulous.]

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pendulum

Noun

1. a weight suspended so it swings freely under the influence of gravity

2. such a device used to regulate a clock mechanism

3. a movement from one attitude or belief towards its opposite: the pendulum has swung back to more punitive measures

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pendulum  (pnj-lm)

A mass hung from a fixed support so that it is able to swing freely under the influence of gravity. Since the motion of pendulums is regular and periodic, they are often used to regulate the action of various devices, especially clocks.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

pendulum - an apparatus consisting of an object mounted so that it swings freely under the influence of gravity apparatus, setup - equipment designed to serve a specific function bob - a hanging weight, especially a metal ball on a string Foucault pendulum - pendulum with a long wire; can swing in any direction; the change in the swing plane demonstrates the earth's rotation metronome - clicking pendulum indicates the exact tempo of a piece of music compound pendulum, physical pendulum - pendulum consisting of an actual object allowed to rotate freely around a horizontal axis simple pendulum - a hypothetical pendulum suspended by a weightless frictionless thread of constant length

Translations

pendulum [ˈpɛndjuləm] n → péndulo

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pendulum [ˈpɛndjuləm] n → pendule m [of clock]; balancier m

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pendulum [ˈpɛndjuləm] n → Pendel nt

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pendulum [ˈpɛndjuləm] n → pendolo