momentum
Other forms: momenta; momentums
Momentum is generally used to mean increasing forward motion. A boulder rolling down a hill gains momentum. So does a great idea, a team on a winning streak, or the economy.
To find an object's physical momentum you multiply its mass by its velocity. Determining the momentum of the economy or the latest fad is much more difficult. Used figuratively, momentum implies that, like a boulder rolling down a hill, something with momentum will continue moving forward on its own. If you're running for class president, you might want to build momentum by holding a few rallies, passing out flyers and starting a website. Once you have momentum, your opponents won't be able to stop you.
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the product of a body's mass and its velocity“the momentum of the particles was deduced from meteoritic velocities”
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types:
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angular momentum
the product of the momentum of a rotating body and its distance from the axis of rotation
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type of:
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physical property
any property used to characterize matter and energy and their interactions
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angular momentum
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an impelling force or strength“the car's momentum carried it off the road”
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synonyms:
impulse
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type of:
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force, forcefulness, strength
physical energy or intensity
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force, forcefulness, strength
/moʊˈmɛntəm/
/məˈmɛntəm/
Vocabulary lists containing momentum
When middle schooler Pie Pennelli is told by the Byrd twins that his recent hockey game had exactly the same moves and score as the one they'd played on a toy the night before, he is unsure what to think about this possible magic.
Molly the katt and Oscar the dogg belong to different families who hiss and growl at each other, but when they both get lost in the woods, they must stick together to get back to their camps safely.
A sequel to Amina's Voice, this novel follows Amina as she tries to help her friends understand the beauty of Pakistan after her presentation on Malala Yousafzai goes awry.
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