Momentum

Momentum
Momentum Mo*men"tum, n.; pl. L. {Momenta}, F. {Momentums}. [L. See {Moment}.] 1. (Mech.) The quantity of motion in a moving body, being always proportioned to the quantity of matter multiplied by the velocity; impetus. [1913 Webster]

2. Essential element, or constituent element. [1913 Webster]

I shall state the several momenta of the distinction in separate propositions. --Sir W. Hamilton. [1913 Webster]

3. A property of an activity or course of events, viewed as analogous to forward motion or to physical momentum (def. 1), such that the activity is believed to be able to continue moving forward without further application of force or effort; -- often used to describe an increase in the acquisition of public support for a purpose; as, as, the petition drive gained momentum when it was mentioned in the newspapers. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Momentum — (sächlich, lateinisch mōmentum, „(Dauer einer) Bewegung“) steht für: einen Film aus dem Jahre 2003, siehe Momentum (Film) ein Verfahren aus der Chartanalyse, siehe Momentum (Chartanalyse) die Investmentgesellschaft Momentum, die im Jahr 2002 von… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • momentum — (n.) 1690s, scientific use in mechanics, quantity of motion of a moving body, from L. momentum movement, moving power (see MOMENT (Cf. moment)). Figurative use dates from 1782 …   Etymology dictionary

  • momentum — [mō men′təm, məmen′təm] n. pl. momentums or momenta [mō men′tə] [ModL < L: see MOMENT] 1. the impetus of a moving object 2. strength or force that keeps growing [a campaign that gained momentum] 3. Physics Mech. the product of the mass of a… …   English World dictionary

  • momentum — I index headway, impetus II index importance, stress (strain) Burton s Legal Thesaurus …   Law dictionary

  • momentum — impetus, *speed, velocity, pace, headway …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • momentum — The plural, though not often needed, is momenta, or informally momentums …   Modern English usage

  • momentum — [n] impetus, push drive, energy, force, impulse, power, propulsion, strength, thrust; concepts 641,712 …   New thesaurus

  • momentum — ► NOUN (pl. momenta) 1) impetus gained by movement or progress. 2) Physics the quantity of motion of a moving body, equal to the product of its mass and velocity. ORIGIN Latin movimentum, from movere to move …   English terms dictionary

  • Momentum — This article is about momentum in physics. For other uses, see Momentum (disambiguation). Classical mechanics Newton s Second Law …   Wikipedia

  • momentum — /moh men teuhm/, n., pl. momenta / teuh/, momentums. 1. force or speed of movement; impetus, as of a physical object or course of events: The car gained momentum going downhill. Her career lost momentum after two unsuccessful films. 2. Mech. a… …   Universalium

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