Definition of pendulum Pendulum

/pɛˈnʤʌlʌm/ - [penjulum] - pen•du•lum

We found 7 definitions of pendulum from 7 different sources.

What does pendulum mean?

Noun Plural: pendulums
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 short abrupt inclination (as of the head); "he gave me a short bob of acknowledgement"
		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

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pendulum (Noun)
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 such as clocks.

pendulum (n.)
A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the movements of clockwork and other machinery.

pendulum
pen′dū-lum, n. any weight so hung from a fixed point as to swing freely: the swinging weight which regulates the movement of a clock: a lamp, &c., pendent from a ceiling: a guard-ring of a watch by which it is attached to a chain.—adj. Pen′dular, relating to a pendulum.—v.i. Pen′dulate, to swing, vibrate.—adjs. Pen′dulent, pendulous; Pen′duline, building a pendulous nest; Pen′dulous, hanging loosely: swinging freely, as the pensile nests of birds: (bot.) hanging downwards, as a flower on a curved stalk.—adv. Pen′dulously.—ns. Pen′dulousness, Pen′dulosity.—Pendulum wire, a kind of flat steel wire for clock pendulums.—Compensation pendulum, a pendulum so constructed that its rod is not altered in length by changes of temperature; Compound pendulum, every ordinary pendulum is compound, as differing from a Simple pendulum, which is a material point suspended by an ideal line; Invariable pendulum, a pendulum for carrying from station to station to be oscillated at each so as to fix the relative acceleration of gravity; Long and short pendulum, a pendulum for determining the absolute force of gravity by means of a bob suspended by a wire of varying length. [L., neut. of pendulus, hanging—pendēre, to hang.]

pendulum
A gravitating instrument for measuring the motion of a ship and thereby assisting the accuracy of her gunnery in regulating horizontal fire.