(pl. vacuums 或vacua /ˈvækjʊə/)
1
- a space entirely devoid of matter空, 真空状态。
1.1
- a space or container from which the air has been completely or partly removed真空; 真空容器。
1.2
- usu. in sing. a gap left by the loss, death, or departure of someone or something formerly playing a significant part in a situation or activity空白, 真空：
the political vacuum left by the death of the Emperor.
皇帝死后留下的政治真空。
2
- (pl. vacuums) informal a vacuum cleaner〈非正式〉真空吸尘器。
with obj.
- informal clean with a vacuum cleaner〈非正式〉使用真空吸尘器清扫：
the room needs to be vacuumed.
这房间要用吸尘器打扫了。
短语
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（需考虑的活动, 问题）似在真空中; 脱离现实背景。
词源
mid 16th cent: modern Latin, neuter of Latin vacuus 'empty'.