Word of the Day: April 28, 2009 ~ vacuum

vacuum (vak-yoom) - noun

A vacuum is "a space entirely devoid of matter" or in relation to the appliance is "a vacuum cleaner or sweeper."

Originally used in the written form around 1540-1550. From the Latin word vacuus, meaning "empty;"and vacāre,"to be empty."

The vacuum tube was evacuated to a high degree of vacuum in 1859. Vacuum cleaner originated in 1903; eventually being shortened to vacuum, which was first recorded 1910. The verb meaning "to clean with a vacuum cleaner" was first recorded in 1922.