First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
suspension
noun sus·pen·sion \sə-ˈspen(t)-shən\
: the act of forcing someone to leave a job, position, or place for a usually short period of time as a form of punishment : the act of suspending someone
: the act of stopping or delaying something for a usually short period of time
: the act of making something invalid or ineffective for a usually short period of time
Full Definition of SUSPENSION
1
: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended: as a : temporary removal (as from office or privileges) b : temporary withholding (as of belief or decision) c : temporary abrogation of a law or rule d (1) : the holding over of one or more musical tones of a chord into the following chord producing a momentary discord and suspending the concord which the ear expects; specifically : such a dissonance which resolves downward — compare anticipation, retardation (2) : the tone thus held over e : stoppage of payment of business obligations : failure —used especially of a business or a bank f : a rhetorical device whereby the principal idea is deferred to the end of a sentence or longer unit
2
a : the act of hanging : the state of being hung b (1) : the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid (2) : a substance in this state (3) : a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size — compare emulsion
3
: something suspended
4
: the means by which something is suspended; especially : the system of devices (as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles
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Origin of SUSPENSION
Middle English suspensyon, from Anglo-French suspension, from Late Latin suspension-, suspensio, from Latin suspendere
Related to SUSPENSION
- Synonyms
- cold storage, deep freeze, doldrums, dormancy, holding pattern, latency, moratorium, quiescence, suspended animation, suspense, abeyance
- Antonyms
- continuance, continuation
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
Rhymes with SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION Defined for Kids
suspension
noun sus·pen·sion \sə-ˈspen-shən\
Definition of SUSPENSION for Kids
1
: the act of stopping, removing, or making someone or something ineffective for a time
2
: the state of being stopped, removed, or made ineffective for a time <suspension of a game>
3
: the period during which someone or something is stopped, removed, or made ineffective <a two week suspension from school>
4
: the act of hanging : the state of being hung
5
: the system of springs that support the upper part of a vehicle on the axles
Medical Dictionary
suspension
noun sus·pen·sion \sə-ˈspen-chən\
Medical Definition of SUSPENSION
1
a : the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid b : a substance in this state—see oral suspension
2
: a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size
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