empty space

empty space
Ether E"ther ([=e]"th[~e]r), n. [L. aether, Gr. a'iqh`r, fr. a'i`qein to light up, kindle, burn, blaze; akin to Skr. idh, indh, and prob. to E. idle: cf. F. ['e]ther.] [Written also {[ae]ther}.] 1. (Physics) A medium of great elasticity and extreme tenuity, once supposed to pervade all space, the interior of solid bodies not excepted, and to be the medium of transmission of light and heat; hence often called {luminiferous ether}. It is no longer believed that such a medium is required for the transmission of electromagnetic waves; the modern use of the term is mostly a figurative term for {empty space}, or for literary effect, and not intended to imply the actual existence of a physical medium. However. modern cosmological theories based on quantum field theory do not rule out the possibility that the inherent energy of the vacuum is greater than zero, in which case the concept of an ether pervading the vacuum may have more than metaphoric meaning. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. Supposed matter above the air; the air itself. [1913 Webster]

3. (Chem.) (a) A light, volatile, mobile, inflammable liquid, {(C2H5)2O}, of a characteristic aromatic odor, obtained by the distillation of alcohol with sulphuric acid, and hence called also {sulphuric ether}. It is a powerful solvent of fats, resins, and pyroxylin, but finds its chief use as an an[ae]sthetic. Commonly called {ethyl ether} to distinguish it from other ethers, and also {ethyl oxide}. (b) Any similar compound in which an oxygen atom is bound to two different carbon atoms, each of which is part of an organic radical; as, amyl ether; valeric ether; methyl ethyl ether. The general formular for an ether is {ROR'}, in which R and R' are organic radicals which may be of similar or different structure. If R and R' are different parts of the same organic radical, the structure forms a cyclic ether. [1913 Webster +PJC]

{Complex ether}, {Mixed ether} (Chem.), an ether in which the ether oxygen is attached to two radicals having different structures; as, ethyl methyl ether, {C2H5.O.CH3}.

{Compound ether} (Chem.), an ethereal salt or a salt of some hydrocarbon as the base; an ester.

{Ether engine} (Mach.), a condensing engine like a steam engine, but operated by the vapor of ether instead of by steam. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Empty space — may refer to: * Outer space, especially the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies * Vacuum, a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, such that its gaseous pressure is much less than… …   Wikipedia

  • empty space — noun a) An unoccupied space where something may be stored You can park your car in that empty space. b) An unoccupied area or volume. You can put the key in that empty space …   Wiktionary

  • empty space — tuščioji erdvė statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. empty space; free space vok. freier Raum, m; Leerraum, m rus. пустое пространство, n; свободное пространство, n pranc. espace libre, m; espace vide, m …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • empty space — unoccupied space, empty area …   English contemporary dictionary

  • empty — adj 1 Empty, vacant, blank, void, vacuous mean lacking the contents that could or should be present. Something is empty which has nothing in it; something is vacant which is without an occupant, incumbent, tenant, inmate, or the person or thing… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Space science — is an all encompassing term that describes all of the various science fields that are concerned with the study of the Universe, generally also meaning excluding the Earth and outside of the Earth s atmosphere . Originally, all of these fields… …   Wikipedia

  • Space art — is a general term for art emerging from knowledge and ideas associated with outer space, both as a source of inspiration and as a means for visualizing and promoting space travel. Whatever the stylistic path, the artist is generally attempting to …   Wikipedia

  • Space Raiders (band) — Space Raiders were a big beat/electronic glam band from Middlesbrough in the north east of England. They formed in 1997, making their debut at the Middlesbrough Arena on Halloween 1997. Their performance consisted of little more than the members… …   Wikipedia

  • space — space1 W1S1 [speıs] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(empty area)¦ 2¦(area for particular purpose)¦ 3¦(between things)¦ 4¦(outside the earth)¦ 5¦(where things exist)¦ 6¦(time)¦ 7¦(empty land)¦ 8¦(freedom)¦ 9¦(in writing)¦ 10¦(in a repo …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Empty set — ∅ redirects here. For similar looking symbols, see Ø (disambiguation). The empty set is the set containing no elements. In mathematics, and more specifically set theory, the empty set is the unique set having no elements; its size or cardinality… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”