vacuum — ONAD

vacuum /ˈvakˌyo͞o(ə)m, ˈvækˌju(ə)m

▸ noun

(plural vacuums or vacua /ˈvakyəwə, ˈvækjəwə

1 a space entirely devoid of matter.

▪ a space or container from which the air has been completely or partly removed.

▪ [usually in singular] a gap left by the loss, death, or departure of someone or something formerly playing a significant part in a situation or activity:

the political vacuum left by the death of the Emperor.

(plural vacuums)

a vacuum cleaner.

▸ verb [with object] clean with a vacuum cleaner:

the room needs to be vacuumed.

– PHRASES
in a vacuum
(of an activity or a problem to be considered) isolated from the context normal to it and in which it can best be understood or assessed:

professional training cannot take place in a vacuum.

– ORIGIN mid 16th century: modern Latin, neuter of Latin vacuus ‘empty’.