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| pen·du·lum [ pénjələm, péndyələm ] (plural pen·du·lums) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. hanging weight: a weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely back and forth under the influence of gravity
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2. rod controlling clock: a rod with a weight at its base that swings from side to side and controls the mechanism of a clock
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3. something that changes regularly: something that changes its direction or position regularly, often alternating between two extremes
  The pendulum has swung back to more traditional teaching methods.
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| [Mid-17th century. < modern Latin< Latin pendulus "hanging" < pendere "hang"] |
