physics

Alternative forms

• physicks (obsolete)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek φυσικός (phusikós, “natural”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɪz.ɪks/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

physics (uncountable)

1. The branch of science concerned with the study of the properties and interactions of space, time, matter and energy.
   • 2012 March 1, Jeremy Bernstein, “A Palette of Particles”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 2, page 146:

     The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.

   Newtonian physics was extended by Einstein to explain the effects of travelling near the speed of light; quantum physics extends it to account for the behaviour of atoms.

2. The physical aspects of a phenomenon or a system, especially those studied scientifically.

   The physics of car crashes would not let Tom Cruise walk away like that.

Noun

physics

1. plural of physic

Verb

physics

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of physic

Further reading

• physics in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• physics in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• physics at OneLook Dictionary Search