spacetime

Meaning

Noun

• The four-dimensional continuum of the three spatial dimensions plus time.
• An n-dimensional continuum consisting of dimensions of both space and time. Normally spacetime is considered as having 4 dimensions (x, y, z, t), but higher-dimensional spacetimes are often encountered in theoretical physics, e.g. the 5-dimensional spacetime of Kaluza-Klein theory or the 11 dimensions of spacetime in M-theory.
• A specific region of the universe with mathematically different properties than the surrounding spacetime. Synonymous with "metric" within the context of general relativity.

Origin

• From space + time, as a , introduced in this sense by Hermann Minkowski.