pendulum
gb/pˈɛnd͡ʒʊləm/ us/pˈɛnd͡ʒʊləm/
B2
Inglés
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B2
entity
1
swinging weight in a clock
a part that swings from side to side, especially in a clock
Patrón de uso:
a pendulum in/on [a clock/device]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use pendulum for the hands of a clock; the pendulum is the swinging part (often inside).
Sinónimos
oscillator (Broader scientific term for something that moves back and forth repeatedly.)
Antónimos
fixed part (Does not move back and forth.)
Colocaciones
a clock pendulum
|a pendulum clock
|the pendulum swings
|a pendulum swings back and forth
|a pendulum mechanism
|a pendulum bob
|pendulum motion
|pendulum movement
|the length of the pendulum
|a pendulum slows down
Temas
time
|everyday_objects
|science
Ejemplos
- You could hear the clock’s pendulum ticking as it swung.
- The repair shop replaced the pendulum and cleaned the gears.
- She watched the pendulum move steadily from side to side.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The pendulum swings in the old clock.
- The pendulum moves left and right.
Sustantivo
C1
entity
2
object that swings freely
a hanging object that can swing freely
Patrón de uso:
a pendulum with [a weight] on [a string/rod]
Sinónimos
plumb bob (A specific hanging weight used to show vertical; it may swing, but it is mainly for alignment.)
Antónimos
rigid support (Does not hang and swing freely.)
Colocaciones
a simple pendulum
|a pendulum experiment
|a pendulum demonstration
|a pendulum setup
|a pendulum swings
|the period of a pendulum
|pendulum length
|pendulum motion
|to release a pendulum
|to measure with a pendulum
Temas
science
|education
Ejemplos
- In physics class, we timed a pendulum to calculate its period.
- The museum exhibit let visitors start a pendulum and watch its path.
- A heavy metal ball served as the pendulum in the demonstration.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The pendulum is a ball on a string.
- The teacher used a pendulum in class.
Sustantivo
C1
abstract
3
shift between two extremes
a change that goes from one side to the other
Patrón de uso:
the pendulum (of [something])
Error frecuente:
Often used with swing; avoid using it for any small change—usually it suggests movement between opposites over time.
Sinónimos
backlash (Emphasizes a strong reaction in the opposite direction.)
|
reversal (A switch to the opposite position, without the repeated back-and-forth idea.)
Antónimos
stability (A situation that stays steady instead of shifting between extremes.)
Colocaciones
the political pendulum
|the pendulum of public opinion
|the pendulum swings
|a pendulum shift
|a pendulum swing
|the pendulum swings back
|a pendulum move toward [something]
|the pendulum swings too far
|the pendulum returns
|the pendulum between [A] and [B]
Temas
politics
|society
|change
Ejemplos
- After years of strict rules, the pendulum swung toward a more flexible approach.
- Some analysts think the pendulum will shift back in the next election.
- Fashion is cyclical—the pendulum always seems to swing from minimal to flashy and back again.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The pendulum swung back to stricter rules.
- Public opinion is a pendulum.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
pendulum
AFI
GB/pˈɛnd͡ʒʊləm/
US/pˈɛnd͡ʒʊləm/
Sílabas y acento
pen - du - lum (3 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (pen)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: pendulum
- Plural: pendula, pendulums
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
a pendulum swing
1/ə pˈɛnd͡ʒʊləm swˈɪŋ/
fixed phrase
big shift between opposites
a big change from one side to the other
Ejemplos
- The industry saw a pendulum swing from rapid hiring to sudden layoffs.
- There has been a pendulum swing in attitudes toward remote work.
- They warned against a pendulum swing from strict control to no control at all.
swing like a pendulum
1/swˈɪŋ lˈaɪk ə pˈɛnd͡ʒʊləm/
fixed phrase
move back and forth steadily
move left and right again and again
Ejemplos
- The lamp swung like a pendulum after the door slammed.
- Her ponytail swung like a pendulum as she ran.
- The sign swung like a pendulum in the wind.
the pendulum swings (back)
1/ðə pˈɛnd͡ʒʊləm swˈɪŋz bˈæk/
fixed phrase
trend changes to the opposite
things are changing to the other side again
Ejemplos
- When people get tired of extremes, the pendulum swings back toward the middle.
- The pendulum swung back after the new policy proved unpopular.
- Some believe the pendulum is swinging toward shorter working weeks.