absolute zero
noun
: a theoretical temperature characterized by complete absence of heat and motion and equivalent to exactly −273.15°C or −459.67°F
Examples of absolute zero in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Active black holes are encircled by intense brightness and billion-degree heat, given off by matter falling toward them—think of the fire of an incoming asteroid—while the black hole itself is unthinkably cold, a tiny fraction of a degree above absolute zero.
—
Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
But if that aluminum wire is cooled down to about one kelvin above absolute zero (–459 degrees Fahrenheit), something bizarre happens: the rules of traffic change so that electrons join together into pairs that glide frictionlessly among the aluminum atoms with zero resistance.
—Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 27 July 2023
The liquid hydrogen will then be heated from 20 Kelvin—just 20° Celsius above absolute zero—to 2,700 Kelvin in less than a second.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 26 July 2023
People might have learned at some point in school that at absolute zero, all motion stops.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 26 July 2023
Zero Kelvin is a measure of the coldest possible temperature, absolute zero.
—Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2023
Using the chip, however, still requires hooking individual chips up to a PCB and getting it down to near absolute zero degrees in a dilution refrigeration system.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 15 June 2023
That’s why superconductors usually occur at temperatures approaching absolute zero, when such thermal energy is extremely low.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 15 Aug. 2023
Any matter above the temperature of absolute zero (about -273 Celsius) will emit light.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023
Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
But if that aluminum wire is cooled down to about one kelvin above absolute zero (–459 degrees Fahrenheit), something bizarre happens: the rules of traffic change so that electrons join together into pairs that glide frictionlessly among the aluminum atoms with zero resistance.
—Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 27 July 2023
The liquid hydrogen will then be heated from 20 Kelvin—just 20° Celsius above absolute zero—to 2,700 Kelvin in less than a second.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 26 July 2023
People might have learned at some point in school that at absolute zero, all motion stops.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 26 July 2023
Zero Kelvin is a measure of the coldest possible temperature, absolute zero.
—Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2023
Using the chip, however, still requires hooking individual chips up to a PCB and getting it down to near absolute zero degrees in a dilution refrigeration system.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 15 June 2023
That’s why superconductors usually occur at temperatures approaching absolute zero, when such thermal energy is extremely low.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 15 Aug. 2023
Any matter above the temperature of absolute zero (about -273 Celsius) will emit light.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'absolute zero.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near absolute zero
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“Absolute zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absolute%20zero. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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