freefall
See also: free-fall and free fall
English
Alternative forms
- free fall (noun only)
- free-fall (verb, noun as a modifier)
Etymology
free + fall
Noun
freefall (uncountable)
- (physics) The state of being in a motion affected by no acceleration (force) other than that provided by gravity.
- (common usage) The state of falling with no interference from outside forces other than the air resistance (no open parachute, etc.)
- (by extension) The state of worsening out of control.
- As civil war continues in Iraq, the U.S. president's approval ratings are in freefall.
Derived terms
Derived terms
- accelerated free fall
- acceleration of free fall
- free-fall style
- free-fall time
- in freefall
- progressive free fall
- universality of free fall
Translations
being affected only by gravity
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falling through atmosphere without additional drag devices
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state of worsening out of control
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Verb
freefall (third-person singular simple present freefalls, present participle freefalling, simple past freefell, past participle freefallen)
- To drop in a state of freefall.
- A base jumper attempts to freefall for as long as possible before triggering the parachute.
Derived terms
- free-falling
Translations
to drop in freefall
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