Suction Meaning
/ˈsʌkʃən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA force which pushes matter from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
nounA force holding two objects together because the pressure in the space between the items is lower than the pressure outside that space.
Sentence Examples
Sea lampreys attach to fish with a suction cup mouth ringed with sharp teeth.
This is a suction cup towel rack. Its suction cups are super strong.
Yanni was carefully peeling the suction pad off.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The pump creates strong ____ to pull the water out of the pipe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The rubber hook used ____ to stick firmly to the smooth glass surface of the large bathroom mirror today.
Word Origin & History
From Latin sūctiō, attested since Late Latin and derived from sūgō (“to suck”). Attested in English since the early 17th century.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The first-named group — the insects that live by suction — include the scale insects, aphides, and sucking bugs[…]"
— 1901, “Progress in the Fruit Industry of Queensland”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, page 16:
"He's got some kind of suction with the Mayor's office."
— 2002 June 9, David Simon, “The Detail” (10:26 from the start), in The Wire, season 1, episode 2 (television production), spoken by Rhonda Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy), via HBO:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The pump creates strong ____ to pull the water out of the pipe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The rubber hook used ____ to stick firmly to the smooth glass surface of the large bathroom mirror today.