velocity

[vuh-los-i-tee]

noun

plural

velocities 

1. rapidity of motion or operation; swiftness; speed.

   a high wind velocity.

2. Mechanics.,  the time rate of change of position of a body in a specified direction.

3. the rate of speed with which something happens; rapidity of action or reaction.

velocity

/ vɪˈlɒsɪtɪ /

noun

1. speed of motion, action, or operation; rapidity; swiftness

2. u.  v.  w. physics a measure of the rate of motion of a body expressed as the rate of change of its position in a particular direction with time. It is measured in metres per second, miles per hour, etc

3. physics (not in technical usage) another word for speed

velocity

1. The speed and direction of motion of a moving body. Velocity is a vector quantity.

2. Compare acceleration speed

velocity

1. The vector giving the speed and direction of motion of any object.

Word History and Origins

Origin of velocity¹

First recorded in 1540–50, velocity is from the Latin word vēlōcitās speed. See velocipede, -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of velocity¹

C16: from Latin vēlōcitās, from vēlōx swift; related to volāre to fly

Synonym Study

See speed.

Example Sentences

"The rocks come from thousands of meters above, so they have so much velocity," Kirsty said.

From BBC

Starting pitcher Blake Snell gave up three runs in 5⅓ innings and battled through a stark drop in fastball velocity.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dodgers were getting good pitching, with Glasnow striking out four of his first five batters while pumping increased fastball velocity and generating foolish swings with his slider.

From Los Angeles Times

As he has aged, and his velocity has dipped, Kershaw has become more of a crafty left-hander.

From Los Angeles Times

“And people have observed that when the fault is very smooth, the rupture ... tends to propagate at a velocity” so fast that it results in an “extremely elongated rupture,” Avouac said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acceleration 
• momentum 
• pace 
• quickness www.thesaurus.com
• tempo