Definition: Energy

From New World Encyclopedia
(Redirected from Energy)

Etymology

From Middle French énergie, from Late Latin energia, from Ancient Greek ἐνέργεια or enérgeia (activity), from ἐνεργός or energós (active), from ἐν or en (in) + ἔργον or érgon (work). The sense in physics was coined by English polymath Thomas Young in 1802 in his lectures on Natural Philosophy.

Noun

energy (countable and uncountable, plural energies)

  1. The impetus behind all motion and all activity.
  2. The capacity to do work.
  3. (physics) A quantity that denotes the ability to do work and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance²/time² (ML²/T²)
  4. An intangible, modifiable force (often characterized as either 'positive' or 'negative') believed in some New Age religions to emanate from a person, place, or thing and which is (or can be) preserved and transferred in human interactions; shared mood or group habit; a vibe, a feeling, an impression. (Compare aura.)
  5. (roleplaying games, video games, board games) A measure of how many actions a player or unit can take; in the fantasy genre often called magic points or mana.

Derived terms

  • acoustic energy
  • activation energy
  • alternative energy
  • atomic energy
  • bioenergy
  • chemical energy
  • dark energy
  • electric energy
  • electromagnetic energy
  • electrostatic energy
  • [[geothermal energy
  • green energy
  • kinetic energy
  • magnetic energy
  • mechanical energy
  • nuclear energy
  • potential energy
  • renewable energy
  • solar energy
  • sound energy
  • thermal energy
  • wind energy
  • energy crisis
  • energy drink

Credits

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