an electrical home appliance that cleans by suction
"After years of letting dust accumulate, I finally bought a new vacuum to get my carpets looking fresh again."
A region of space that contains no matter.
"The telescope captured images of deep vacuum regions where stars form in absolute silence."
In plain English: A vacuum is an empty space where there is no matter, such as air or gas.
"The vacuum cleaner sucked up all the dust from the carpet."
To clean (something) with a vacuum cleaner.
"After moving all the furniture, I spent an hour vacuuming the entire living room to get rid of the dust bunnies."
In plain English: To vacuum means to clean a floor by sucking up dirt and dust with a machine.
"She decided to vacuum the living room before her guests arrived."
Usage: Use this verb to describe cleaning floors or upholstery by sucking up dirt and debris with an electric appliance. It is often paired with objects like carpets, rooms, or the entire house rather than abstract concepts.
The word "vacuum" entered English from New Latin, originally meaning "empty space." Its modern sense of an airless environment developed through analogy with the suction action of a vacuum cleaner.