Word: force Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English force, fors, forse, from Old French force, from Late Latin fortia, a noun derived from the neuter plural of Latin fortis (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to rise, high, hill”). Pronunciation: /fɔːs/, /foːs/, /foɹs/, [fo̞ɹs], /foɾs/ 1. Ability to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: the force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract Example: show of force 2. A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). Labels: uncountable Example: Torque is the rotational version of force. Example: Force is the result of fundamental interactions. 3. A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). Labels: countable Example: Most physicists deem there to be four fundamental forces: the weak force, the strong force, gravitation, and the electromagnetic force. Example: fictitious forces 4. A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). Labels: capitalized, countable, humorous, often, uncountable Example: The Europeans tried, my goodness how they tried. But on the day the US proved too strong and too inspired. They were, dammit, just better. And when Leonard's putt dropped they clearly had the force with them as well. Example: The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. 5. A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). Labels: countable Example: A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever. Example: Two forces acting upon the same point on an object will cancel out only if they have equal magnitude and opposite directions. 6. A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn). Labels: possibly, proscribed, uncountable Example: Heavier objects are those that are subject to more gravitational force. 7. Anything that is able to make a substantial change in a person or thing. Labels: countable 8. Something or anything that has the power to produce a physical effect upon something else, such as causing it to move or change shape. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. Something that exerts influence. Labels: countable Example: force of nature 10. Something that exerts influence. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I believe that the main long-term force that guides a society's evolution is not the economy or the leaders, but the culture. Example: Some skeptics have attributed changing temperatures to forces out of our control, such as axial procession. 11. Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion. Labels: uncountable Example: which now they hold by force, and not by right 12. Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion. Labels: countable, uncountable 13. A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). Labels: countable Example: air force; police force Example: Force Z 14. A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). Labels: countable, uncountable 15. A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). Labels: countable, plural, singular, uncountable Example: After only a week, Japanese forces had captured Singapore from the British. Example: reinforcements grew the American force in the area to 9,000 16. A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group). Labels: countable, plural, singular, uncountable, usually, with-definite-article Example: Q. All the time that he was on the force? A. I cannot say that; but there were men on with me when I was on the force who were very good Republicans. Q. During all this time you have been on the police force? Example: Some of those that work forces / Are the same that burn crosses 17. The state of having legal weight, of being legally valid,. Labels: uncountable Example: The law will come into force in January. 18. A magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person. Labels: countable 19. Ability of an utterance or its element (word, form, prosody, ...) to effect a given meaning. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: When the aspectual force of the verbal categories weakens, the 'terminative', punctual or determinative value of the prefix gains in importance,... 20. The annualized instantaneous rate of change at a particular timepoint. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: force of mortality