physics

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the science of matter and energy and their interactions

   Their favorite subject was physics.

2. 2
   noun

   the physical properties, phenomena, and laws of something

   The graduate student studied the physics of radiation.

3. 3
   noun

   The branch of science concerned with the study of the properties and interactions of space, time, matter and energy.

   Newtonian physics was extended by Einstein to explain the effects of travelling near the speed of light; quantum physics extends it to account for the behaviour of atoms.

4. 4
   noun

   The physical aspects of a phenomenon or a system, especially those examined or studied scientifically.

   The physics of car crashes would not let Tom Cruise walk away like that.

5. 5
   noun

   plural of physic

6. 6
   verb

   third-person singular simple present indicative of physic

Etymology

1580s; from physic (see also -ics), from Middle English phisik, from Old French fisike (“natural science, art of healing”), from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φυσικός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), from Ancient Greek φύσις (phúsis, “origin; nature, property”), from Ancient Greek φύω (phúō, “produce; bear; grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).