How Do You Spell Vacuum? | Definition & Uses
The correct spelling of vacuum includes one “c,” two “u’s,” and ends with an “m.” That means “vacume,” “vaccum,” and “vaccuum” are incorrect spellings. As a noun, “vacuum” refers to a space devoid of matter or a device used for cleaning. As a verb, it refers to the act of using this device.
How to spell vacuum
The correct spelling of “vacuum” is v-a-c-u-u-m, regardless of whether the word is being used as a noun or a verb. There are many common misspellings, including “vacume,” “vaccum,” “vacum,” “vaccume,” and “vacum.” Spelling “vacuum” can be difficult because English words that contain two consecutive “u’s” are uncommon.
Vacuum definition
“Vacuum” can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, “vacuum” has a few different meanings. In physics, “vacuum” specifically refers to the emptiness found in space but can also refer to any area that has an absence of matter (e.g., “Scientists remain baffled by the vacuum of space”).
Additionally, the word “vacuum” is sometimes used figuratively to describe a situation where something is entirely missing (e.g., “During the government shutdown, there was a vacuum of power”).
But “vacuum” has a more commonplace meaning, too. It is a shortened version of the compound word “vacuum cleaner,” which is a device that uses suction to clean up dust, dirt, particles, and more from the floor (e.g., “I left the vacuum stored in the garage”).
As a verb, “vacuum” means “to use a vacuum cleaner to clean” (e.g., “I will vacuum soon”). It’s a regular verb, meaning its past tense and past participle forms are both “vacuumed.” Other forms of “vacuum” include “vacuums” (third-person singular) and “vacuuming” (present participle and gerund).
Frequently asked questions about how to spell vacuum
- What is vaccuming?
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“Vaccuming” is an incorrect spelling of “vacuuming,” which is the present participle form of the verb “vacuum” (e.g., “I was vacuuming when you knocked, so I didn’t hear you”).
- Is it vaccum or vacuum?
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The correct spelling is “vacuum” (with one “c,” two “u’s,” and ending with the letter “m”). “Vaccum” is a common incorrect spelling of “vacuum.”