suction
n. uncountablen. the force that pulls something into a space because there is no air inside. You see this when you use a vacuum cleaner or a straw.
n. the production of a partial or total vacuum in a cavity or over a surface, causing the atmospheric pressure to force fluid or objects into the vacant space.
The vacuum cleaner has very strong suction.
The doctor used a small tube to apply suction and clear the fluid from the patient's airway.
Industrial robots often utilize specialized suction cups to lift and manipulate glass panels without leaving the physical marks that mechanical clamps might produce.
From Latin sūctiō, attested since Late Latin and derived from sūgō (“to suck”). Attested in English since the early 17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often functions as a modifier in compound nouns like 'suction cup' or 'suction pump'.
Last updated May 6, 2026