Pendulum
ˈpɛndjʊləm
Definitions
2 meaningsA weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. Used especially to regulate the mechanism of a clock or to demonstrate physical principles.
ˈpɛndjʊləm
A weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely backward and forward.
The old clock had a long, elegant pendulum that swung smoothly.
💡 Simply: Imagine a swing that goes back and forth. A pendulum is like that, but it's usually a weight hanging from something, like a clock. It swings back and forth regularly.
👶 For kids: A pendulum is something heavy that hangs and swings back and forth, like in a clock.
More Examples
The physics experiment used a simple pendulum to demonstrate the laws of motion.
The artist captured the rhythmic movement of the pendulum in their painting.
How It's Used
"Scientists use pendulums to study gravity and time."
"Many grandfather clocks have a pendulum to regulate the time."
"Her mood swung like a pendulum between excitement and despair."
A situation where things fluctuate between two extremes.
ˈpɛndjʊləm
A situation in which something keeps changing from one extreme to another.
The company's profits followed a pendulum, fluctuating between success and struggles.
💡 Simply: Sometimes things go from one extreme to another, like a pendulum swinging back and forth. For example, if someone is happy one minute and sad the next, that's like their feelings being a pendulum.
👶 For kids: A pendulum is a thing that swings back and forth. Sometimes, we say someone's feelings are like a pendulum when they change a lot.
More Examples
The history of the country's policies has been a pendulum, oscillating between liberal and conservative.
The debate about the best approach to education swung like a pendulum between traditional and progressive methods.
How It's Used
"The political climate has swung like a pendulum between left and right."
"Her emotions moved like a pendulum from joy to sadness."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
The pendulum swings
A situation is changing or shifting, especially between opposing viewpoints or outcomes.
"The pendulum swings back towards conservative politics after years of liberal policies."
From Late Latin *pendulum* ('hanging down'), from *pendēre* ('to hang'). Its use in the context of a swinging weight for timekeeping or scientific measurement emerged in the 17th century.
The word gained prominence in the 17th century with the invention of the pendulum clock, revolutionizing timekeeping.
Memory tip
Think of a clock's swinging weight, the *pendulum*, marking time with its rhythmic motion.
Word Origin
"hanging down"