suction

Meanings

Noun

• A force which pushes matter from one space into another because the pressure inside the second space is lower than the pressure in the first.
• A force holding two objects together because the pressure in the space between the items is lower than the pressure outside that space.
• The process of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another.
• A device for removing saliva from a patient's mouth during dental operations, a saliva ejector.
• influence; "pull".

Verb

• To create an imbalance in pressure between one space and another in order to draw matter between the spaces.
• To draw out the contents of a space.

Related

Opposite words

• unsuction

Origin

• From Latin sugere ("to suck").