velocity
word
/vəˈɫɑsəti/
vuh-LAH-suh-dee
/vəlˈɒsɪti/
vuh-LO-si-tee
Definition
The speed of something in a specific direction; often used in physics to describe how fast and in what direction something moves.
Usage & Nuances
Mostly formal, technical, or scientific; common in physics and engineering. 'Velocity' is different from 'speed': 'velocity' includes direction, 'speed' does not. Not used in everyday conversation for general movement.
Spanish: velocidadPortuguese (BR): velocidadePortuguese (PT): velocidadeChinese (Simplified): 速度Chinese (Traditional): 速度Hindi: वेगArabic: سرعةBengali: বেগRussian: скорость (с учётом направления)Japanese: 速度Vietnamese: vận tốcKorean: 속도Turkish: hız (vektörel)Urdu: رفتارIndonesian: kecepatan (vektor)
Example Sentences
The car increased its velocity on the highway.
basic
Wind velocity can affect how cold we feel.
basic
Light travels at a very high velocity.
basic
You need to know both the speed and the velocity for these science problems.
natural
The baseball left the pitcher’s hand with a surprising velocity.
natural
To calculate the object's velocity, we need both distance and direction.
natural