plenum

[plee-nuhm, plen-uhm]

noun

plural

plenums, plena 

1. the state or a space in which a gas, usually air, is contained at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

2. a full assembly, as a joint legislative assembly.

3. a space, usually above a ceiling or below a floor, that can serve as a receiving chamber for air that has been heated or cooled to be distributed to inhabited areas.

4. the whole of space regarded as being filled with matter (vacuum ).

plenum

/ ˈpliːnəm /

noun

1. an enclosure containing gas at a higher pressure than the surrounding environment

2. a fully attended meeting or assembly, esp of a legislative body

3. (esp in the philosophy of the Stoics) space regarded as filled with matter Compare vacuum

4. the condition or quality of being full

Word History and Origins

Origin of plenum¹

1670–80; < Latin, neuter of plēnus full ¹, in the phrase plēnum ( spatium ) full (space)

Word History and Origins

Origin of plenum¹

C17: from Latin: space filled by matter, from plēnus full

Example Sentences

I love how lovingly he delves beyond salsa to also include plena.

From Los Angeles Times

Released Jan. 5, the record pays homage to the island’s rich rhythms like plena and salsa, and delves into it’s seldom taught history.

From Los Angeles Times

Joseph notes that many schools are at risk of closure due to the island’s ongoing economic crisis, and those that remain open seldom teach the traditional musicology of bomba, plena, danza, mazurca.

From Los Angeles Times

An expected Communist party plenum, which is likely to take place in November and traditionally focuses on reforms, could disappoint those awaiting big changes.

From Reuters

Still, the coalition looked set to bring the bill to the plenum on Sunday for final votes before the July 30 recess.

From Reuters

Related Words

• completeness www.thesaurus.com
• saturation 
• totality 
• wholeness