forces

Noun

force (countable and uncountable, plural forces)

1. Ability to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.
   • the force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract
2. (uncountable) The generalized abstraction of this concept.
   • Torque is the rotational version of force.
3. (countable) A particular form or type of force.
   • Most physicists deem there to be four fundamental forces: the weak force, the strong force, gravitation, and the electromagnetic force.
4. (capitalized, humorous, often) A metaphysical and ubiquitous power from the fictional Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. See usage note.
   • The Europeans tried, my goodness how they tried. But on the day the US proved too strong and too inspired. They were, dammit, just better. And when Leonard's putt dropped they clearly had the force with them as well.1999 September 28, Mike Selvey, “Crenshaw vindicated by a chain reaction”, in The Guardian
5. (countable) An instance of a physical force.
   • A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial...2012 March, Henry Petroski, “Opening Doors”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, pages 112–3
6. (possibly, proscribed, uncountable) Force understood as something of which there can be an amount.
   • Heavier objects are those that are subject to more gravitational force.

See all 38 meanings of force