pendulum

Borrowed from the neuter of Latin pendulus (“hanging”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɛnd͡ʒələm/
• US (some regions): IPA^(key): /ˈpɪnd͡ʒələm/

• Audio (US)

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pendulum (plural pendulums or pendula) (See usage notes.)

1. A body suspended from a fixed support so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices such as clocks.
2. A lamp, etc. suspended from a ceiling.
3. A watch's guard-ring by which it is attached to a chain.

The plural form pendula is significantly rarer than pendulums; see etymology at pendula for details. However, pendula is occasionally used in physics.

• Foucault’s pendulum
• pendant

• simple harmonic motion

• unplumed

pendulum

1. nominative neuter singular of pendulus
2. accusative masculine singular of pendulus
3. accusative neuter singular of pendulus
4. vocative neuter singular of pendulus

• pendulum in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)