: the gravitational attraction of the mass of the earth, the moon, or a planet for bodies at or near its surface
(2)
: a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions which occur because of mass between particles, between aggregations of matter (such as stars and planets), and between particles (such as photons) and aggregations of matter, that is 10-39 times the strength of the strong force, and that extends over infinite distances but is dominant over macroscopic distances especially between aggregations of matter
the hospital waiting room was filled with the kind of gravity that inevitably accompanies worry
Recent Examples on the WebThere’s zero posturing or pretending with this character, and Davis’ gravity feeds the film’s. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 Throughout most of the cosmos, gravity tracks with curves in space and time as described by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Thomas Lewton, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2022 In the universe, there is no greater catastrophe than a black hole, whose gravity is so intense that not even light can escape.WIRED, 8 Sep. 2022 Hump yards have artificial hills which long trains are pushed over so that gravity helps send individual or coupled cars down different tracks to where they are then reassembled and sent to their next destination. Esther Fung, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 With triple the loops — a Hot Wheels first — kids can build all different kinds of stunts, from gravity drops to daredevil jumps. Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 1 Sep. 2022 This was certainly a fear of mine, and post-birth, gravity has done its thing. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 31 Aug. 2022 Lie on one side and let gravity pull the water out. Create a vacuum to suck the water out of your ear. Evan Hecht, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2022 If gravity had its way, lake water would someday make it into the creek. Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle French or Latin; Middle French gravité, from Latin gravitat-, gravitas, from gravis — see graveentry 2