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4 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Gravitation \Grav"i*ta"tion\, n. [Cf. F. gravitation. See
     Gravity.]
     1. The act of gravitating.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Pysics) That species of attraction or force by which all
        bodies or particles of matter in the universe tend toward
        each other; called also attraction of gravitation,
        universal gravitation, and universal gravity. See
        Attraction, and Weight.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Law of gravitation, that law in accordance with which
        gravitation acts, namely, that every two bodies or
        portions of matter in the universe attract each other with
        a force proportional directly to the quantity of matter
        they contain, and inversely to the squares of their
        distances.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Attraction \At*trac"tion\, n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.]
     1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it draws
        anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually
        between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them
        together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and
        conversely resisting separation.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible
           distances, and is variously denominated according to
           its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at
           sensible distances, there are, -- (1.)
  
     Attraction of gravitation, which acts at all distances
        throughout the universe, with a force proportional
        directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and
        inversely to the square of their distances apart. (2.)
  
     Magnetic, diamagnetic, and electrical attraction, each
        of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in
        its action, a property dependent on the quality or
        condition of matter, and not on its quantity. Under
        attraction at insensible distances, there are, -- (1.)
  
     Adhesive attraction, attraction between surfaces of
        sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening
        substance. (2.)
  
     Cohesive attraction, attraction between ultimate particles,
        whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation
        or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of
        gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the
        process of solidification or crystallization. The power in
        adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of
        cohesion. (3.)
  
     Capillary attraction, attraction causing a liquid to rise,
        in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level
        outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any
        porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid.
        It is a special case of cohesive attraction. (4.)
  
     Chemical attraction, or
  
     affinity, that peculiar force which causes elementary
        atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power
        or operation of attraction. --Newton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or
        engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of
        beauty or eloquence.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Allurement; enticement; charm.
          [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Attraction \At*trac"tion\, n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.]
     1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it draws
        anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually
        between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them
        together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and
        conversely resisting separation.
  
     Note: Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible
           distances, and is variously denominated according to
           its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at
           sensible distances, there are, -- (1.)
  
     Attraction of gravitation, which acts at all distances
        throughout the universe, with a force proportional
        directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and
        inversely to the square of their distances apart. (2.)
  
     Magnetic, diamagnetic, and electrical attraction, each
        of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in
        its action, a property dependent on the quality or
        condition of matter, and not on its quantity. Under
        attraction at insensible distances, there are, -- (1.)
  
     Adhesive attraction, attraction between surfaces of
        sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening
        substance. (2.)
  
     Cohesive attraction, attraction between ultimate particles,
        whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation
        or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of
        gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the
        process of solidification or crystallization. The power in
        adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of
        cohesion. (3.)
  
     Capillary attraction, attraction causing a liquid to rise,
        in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level
        outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any
        porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid.
        It is a special case of cohesive attraction. (4.)
  
     Chemical attraction, or
  
     affinity, that peculiar force which causes elementary
        atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules.
  
     2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power
        or operation of attraction. --Newton.
  
     3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or
        engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of
        beauty or eloquence.
  
     4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature.
  
     Syn: Allurement; enticement; charm.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Gravitation \Grav"i*ta"tion\, n. [Cf. F. gravitation. See
     Gravity.]
     1. The act of gravitating.
  
     2. (Pysics) That species of attraction or force by which all
        bodies or particles of matter in the universe tend toward
        each other; called also attraction of gravitation,
        universal gravitation, and universal gravity. See
        Attraction, and Weight.
  
     Law of gravitation, that law in accordance with which
        gravitation acts, namely, that every two bodies or
        portions of matter in the universe attract each other with
        a force proportional directly to the quantity of matter
        they contain, and inversely to the squares of their
        distances.

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