SUCTION

Suction

Suction is the flow of a fluid into a partial vacuum, or region of low pressure. The pressure gradient between this region and the ambient pressure will propel matter toward the low pressure area. Suction is popularly thought of as an attractive effect, which is incorrect since vacuums do not innately attract matter. Dust being "sucked" into a vacuum cleaner is actually being pushed in by the higher pressure air on the outside of the cleaner. The higher pressure of the surrounding fluid can push matter into a vacuum but a vacuum cannot attract matter.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Suction
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

suction

Noun

  1. The principle of physics by which matter is drawn from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
  2. The principle of physics by which one item is caused to adhere to another because the pressure in the space between the items is lower than the pressure outside that space.
  3. The process of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another.

Verb

  1. To create an imbalance in pressure between one space and another in order to draw matter between the spaces.
  2. To draw out the contents of a space.

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to something that operates by the principle of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: suction
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!