Finesentence logo

Pendulum: meaning, definitions and examples

⏳
Add to dictionary

pendulum

 

[ ˈpɛndjʊləm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

physics

A weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely back and forth under the action of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices such as clocks.

Synonyms

bob, plumb bob, swinger

Examples of usage

  • The pendulum of the clock swung rhythmically back and forth.
  • The scientist conducted an experiment with a pendulum to study its motion.
Context #2 | Noun

figurative

Something that regularly swings from one extreme to another.

Synonyms

fluctuation, oscillation, vacillation

Examples of usage

  • The economy seems to be a pendulum, swinging between boom and bust cycles.
  • Her emotions were like a pendulum, shifting rapidly from joy to sorrow.
Context #3 | Noun

music

A weight on the mechanism of a clock that regulates the speed of the movement.

Synonyms

metronome, timekeeper

Examples of usage

  • The musician adjusted the pendulum to keep the tempo steady.
  • The metronome's pendulum swung steadily back and forth.

Translations

Translations of the word "pendulum" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pêndulo

🇮🇳 झूलता हुआ

🇩🇪 Pendelu

🇮🇩 pendulum

🇺🇦 маятник

🇵🇱 wahadło

🇯🇵 振り子 (ふりこ)

🇫🇷 pendule

🇪🇸 péndulo

🇹🇷 salınım

🇰🇷 추 (chu)

🇸🇦 البندول

🇨🇿 kyvadlo

🇸🇰 kyvadlo

🇨🇳 摆锤 (bǎichuí)

🇸🇮 nihalo

🇮🇸 sveifla

🇰🇿 маятник

🇬🇪 იდიომარი

🇦🇿 pendulum

🇲🇽 péndulo

Etymology

The word 'pendulum' originated from the Latin word 'pendulus', which means hanging. The concept of a swinging weight to regulate time dates back to ancient civilizations, such as the use of water clocks and sundials. The modern pendulum clock was invented by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in the 17th century. Since then, the pendulum has been widely used in various applications, from timekeeping devices to scientific experiments.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,411, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.