Dictionary

nature abhors a vacuum en · X

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Generating and maintaining a near-vacuum is challenging (requiring technical rigor) because ambient pressure tends to push matter forcefully into the evacuated chamber; and generating a true vacuum (devoid of any matter at all) is extremely challenging.
   • The development of practical electric light bulbs was challenging not least because nature abhors a vacuum: removing all air from the bulbs was not as easy as it at first seemed.
2. (idiomatic) Generating a vacuum is impossible (a vacuum can never exist) owing to the inherent nature of the universe.
   • The ancients believed that nature abhors a vacuum.
3. A power vacuum will usually be filled quickly.

Relateds

horror vacui · in a vacuum

wikidata: Q5905265