absolute zero
nounDefinition of absolute zero
: a theoretical temperature characterized by complete absence of heat and motion and equivalent to exactly −273.15°C or −459.67°F
Examples of absolute zero in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This point, known as absolute zero, is the starting point of the Kelvin scale, which was named after Lord Kelvin, a British scientist who lived from 1824 to 1907. — Anchorage Daily News, "Thermometers are at work everywhere in cold-conscious Alaska," 7 Sep. 2019 Its high precision derives from a design that isolates the atoms from all forces except gravity, in part by keeping the particles in vacuum near absolute zero. — Wired, "Scientists Watch Atoms Fall to See Earth's Changing Structure," 3 Sep. 2019 In the lab, physicists (or undergraduates) confine the particles in an electromagnetic trap, then zap them with lasers to remove the kinetic energy and lower the temperature to just above absolute zero. — Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, "Dark Matter Recipe Calls for One Part Superfluid," 13 June 2017 Indeed, an electrical current running around a ring of mercury at 7 degrees above absolute zero would, in principle, run forever. — Kenneth Chang, New York Times, "J. Robert Schrieffer, 88, Dies; Insight on Superconductivity Led to Nobel," 6 Aug. 2019 The telescope faces engineering challenges, such as the need to keep it just a few degrees above absolute zero. — Leah Brennan, baltimoresun.com, "James Webb telescope project manager, a Columbia resident, plans for NASA launch," 24 July 2019 Last year, physicists reported that, when chilled to 1.7°C above absolute zero (–273°C), sheets of carbon atoms two layers thick can conduct electricity without resistance, allowing electrons to whiz through the material without losing any energy. — Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, "Trilayer graphene shows signs of superconductivity," 17 July 2019 Bose-Einstein condensate: Only formed at temperatures close to absolute zero, all the atoms in this material begin to act as a single particle. — Adam Mann, National Geographic, "Confirmed: New phase of matter is solid and liquid at the same time," 8 Apr. 2019 Worse yet, the vibrations will not stop until the crystal reaches absolute zero, which is impossible. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Straining a diamond makes silicon-based qubit behave," 20 Sep. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'absolute zero.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more