catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Moment \Mo"ment\, n. [F. moment, L. momentum, for movimentum
     movement, motion, moment, fr. movere to move. See Move, and
     cf. Momentum, Movement.]
     1. A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant; as,
        at that very moment.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. --1 Cor.
                                                    xv. 52.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Impulsive power; force; momentum.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The moments or quantities of motion in bodies.
                                                    --Berkley.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Touch, with lightest moment of impulse,
              His free will.                        --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Importance, as in influence or effect; consequence; weight
        or value; consideration.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Matters of great moment.              --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less
              moment and consequence of us than the others.
                                                    --Bentley.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. An essential element; a deciding point, fact, or
        consideration; an essential or influential circumstance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Math.) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an
        increment or decrement. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Mech.) Tendency, or measure of tendency, to produce
        motion, esp. motion about a fixed point or axis.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Moment of a couple (Mech.), the product of either of its
        forces into the perpendicular distance between them.
  
     Moment of a force. (Mech.)
        (a) With respect to a point, the product of the intensity
            of the force into the perpendicular distance from the
            point to the line of direction of the force.
        (b) With respect to a line, the product of that component
            of the force which is perpendicular to the plane
            passing through the line and the point of application
            of the force, into the shortest distance between the
            line and this point.
        (c) With respect to a plane that is parallel to the force,
            the product of the force into the perpendicular
            distance of its point of application from the plane.
            
  
     Moment of inertia, of a rotating body, the sum of the mass
        of each particle of matter of the body into the square of
        its distance from the axis of rotation; -- called also
        moment of rotation and moment of the mass.
  
     Statical moment, the product of a force into its leverage;
        the same as moment of a force with respect to a point,
        line, etc.
  
     Virtual moment. See under Virtual.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Instant; twinkling; consequence; weight; force; value;
          consideration; signification; avail.
          [1913 Webster]

  Moment \Mo"ment\, n. [F. moment, L. momentum, for movimentum
     movement, motion, moment, fr. movere to move. See Move, and
     cf. Momentum, Movement.]
     1. A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant; as,
        at thet very moment.
  
              In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. --1 Cor.
                                                    xv. 52.
  
     2. Impulsive power; force; momentum.
  
              The moments or quantities of motion in bodies.
                                                    --Berkley.
  
              Touch, with lightest moment of impulse, His free
              will.                                 --Milton.
  
     3. Importance, as in influence or effect; consequence; weight
        or value; consideration.
  
              Matters of great moment.              --Shak.
  
              It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less
              moment and consequence of us than the others.
                                                    --Bentley.
  
     4. An essential element; a deciding point, fact, or
        consideration; an essential or influential circumstance.
  
     5. (Math.) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an
        increment or decrement. [Obs.]
  
     6. (Mech.) Tendency, or measure of tendency, to produce
        motion, esp. motion about a fixed point or axis.
  
     Moment of a couple (Mech.), the product of either of its
        forces into the perpendicular distance between them.
  
     Moment of a force. (Mech.)
        (a) With respect to a point, the product of the intensity
            of the force into the perpendicular distance from the
            point to the line of direction of the force.
        (b) With respect to a line, the product of that component
            of the force which is perpendicular to the plane
            passing through the line and the point of application
            of the force, into the shortest distance between the
            line and this point.
        (c) With respect to a plane that is parallel to the force,
            the product of the force into the perpendicular
            distance of its point of application from the plane.
            
  
     Moment of inertia, of a rotating body, the sum of the mass
        of each particle of matter of the body into the square of
        its distance from the axis of rotation; -- called also
        moment of rotation and moment of the mass.
  
     Statical moment, the product of a force into its leverage;
        the same as moment of a force with respect to a point,
        line, etc.
  
     Virtual moment. See under Virtual.
  
     Syn: Instant; twinkling; consequence; weight; force; value;
          consideration; signification; avail.