Word definition: moment

Etimology


From Middle English moment, from Old French moment, from Latin mōmentum. Doublet of momentum and movement.

noun


moment (countable and uncountable, plural moments)

A brief, unspecified amount of time.

The smallest portion of time; an instant.

(figurative) Weight or importance.

(physics, mechanics) Ellipsis of moment of force.

(historical, unit) A definite period of time, specifically one-tenth of a point, or one-fortieth or one-fiftieth of an hour.

(neurology, informal) A petit mal episode; such a spell.

(colloquial) A fit; a brief tantrum.

(mathematics) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement.

(mathematics) A quantitative measure of the shape of a set of points.

(Internet slang, derogatory, usually preceded by a noun) An embarrassing event, supposed to be characteristic of some person, group, or situation.

Examples


Synonyms: stound, instant, trice

Wait a moment, while I lock the front door.

Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps, […] , and the light of the reflector fell full upon her.

Sophia broke down here. Even at this moment she was subconsciously comparing her rendering of the part of the forlorn bride with Miss Marie Lohr's.

Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself.

Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.

In deep designs, in matter of great moment, / No less importing than our general good.

However, upon a ſtrict Review, I blotted out ſeveral Paſſages of leſs Moment which were in my firſt Copy, for fear of being cenſured as tedious and trifling, whereof Travellers are often, perhaps not without Juſtice, accuſed.

The document in question is of such immense importance that its publication might very easily – I might almost say probably – lead to European complications of the utmost moment.

As to any suggestion that Stroudley's engines were not free-running at high speed, this was of little moment with 60 m.p.h. laid down as the limit at that time.

Britannia therefore has the advantage over only two classes, the rebuilt "Scots" and the "V2s", and in only two respects, maximum axle load and weight of tender .

Synonym: torque

If the points represent mass, then the zeroth moment is the total mass, the first moment divided by the total mass is the center of mass, and the second moment is the rotational inertia.

woman moment

Reddit moment

Data provided by Wiktionary