Specific gravity

Specific gravity
Gravity Grav"i*ty, n.; pl. {Gravities}. [L. gravitas, fr. gravis heavy; cf. F. gravit['e]. See {Grave}, a., {Grief}.] 1. The state of having weight; beaviness; as, the gravity of lead. [1913 Webster]

2. Sobriety of character or demeanor. ``Men of gravity and learning.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Importance, significance, dignity, etc; hence, seriousness; enormity; as, the gravity of an offense. [1913 Webster]

They derive an importance from . . . the gravity of the place where they were uttered. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

4. (Physics) The tendency of a mass of matter toward a center of attraction; esp., the tendency of a body toward the center of the earth; terrestrial gravitation. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mus.) Lowness of tone; -- opposed to {acuteness}. [1913 Webster]

{Center of gravity} See under {Center}.

{Gravity battery}, See {Battery}, n., 4.

{Specific gravity}, the ratio of the weight of a body to the weight of an equal volume of some other body taken as the standard or unit. This standard is usually water for solids and liquids, and air for gases. Thus, 19, the specific gravity of gold, expresses the fact that, bulk for bulk, gold is nineteen times as heavy as water. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Specific gravity — is defined as the ratio of the density of a given solid or liquid substance to the density of water at a specific temperature and pressure, typically at 4°C (39°F) and convert|1|atm|inHg|2|abbr=on|lk=on , making it a dimensionless quantity (see… …   Wikipedia

  • specific gravity — specific gravity, adj. Physics. the ratio of the density of any substance to the density of some other substance taken as standard, water being the standard for liquids and solids, and hydrogen or air being the standard for gases. Also called… …   Universalium

  • Specific gravity — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • specific gravity — n the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of some substance (as pure water) taken as a standard when both densities are obtained by weighing in air * * * the ratio, more correctly known as relative density, of the density of a… …   Medical dictionary

  • specific gravity — n. the ratio of the weight or mass of a given volume of a substance to that of an equal volume of another substance (water for liquids and solids, air or hydrogen for gases) used as a standard …   English World dictionary

  • specific gravity — noun the density of a substance relative to the density of water • Hypernyms: ↑relative density * * * noun [noncount] technical : a measurement that indicates how dense a substance is by comparing it to the density of water determining the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • specific gravity — the ratio, more correctly known as relative density, of the density of a substance at 20°C to the density of water at its temperature of maximum density (4°C). Measurement of the specific gravity of urine is one of the tests of renal function …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Specific gravity (kidney) — Specific gravity, in the context of clinical pathology, is a urinalysis parameter commonly used in the evaluation of kidney function and can aid in the diagnosis of various renal diseases. BackgroundThe role of the kidneys in humans and other… …   Wikipedia

  • specific-gravity balance — noun : a balance used for determining the specific gravity of a liquid or solid by means of the Archimedes principle …   Useful english dictionary

  • specific-gravity bottle — noun or specific gravity flask : a pycnometer having the form of a stoppered bottle …   Useful english dictionary

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