velocity
velocity Lexical Profile
velocity Game Scores & Validity
• noun
In physics, the vector rate of change of an object's position with respect to time, combining both its speed and its direction of motion.
"The satellite maintained a constant orbital velocity as it circled the Earth."
General rapidity of motion, action, or occurrence; swiftness or speed.
"Hurricane-force winds swept across the coastline with astonishing velocity."
In economics, the rate at which money is exchanged from one transaction to another within an economy over a given period.
"Central bank analysts closely monitor the velocity of money to gauge inflationary pressures."
Word Nuance & Usage
In everyday conversation, 'velocity' is often used interchangeably with 'speed', but in physics, 'speed' is a scalar quantity measuring only how fast an object moves, whereas 'velocity' is a vector quantity that specifies both speed and direction.
• Rhymes for velocity
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 15th century from Middle French vélocité, from Latin velocitas ('swiftness, speed'), derived from velox ('swift, rapid').