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space-time

space-time

46 7.9
A way of seeing space and time as one thing
  • noun
  • /ˈspeɪs taɪm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : espacio-tiempo
  • In the theory of relativity, all physical events occur within the space-time continuum.
  • space-time continuum
  • fabric of space-time
  • ripples in space-time

The actual curvature of space-time itself, that is.

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Examples

  • Senator, I believe that the Machine opened up a wormhole... ...a tunnel through space-time, also known as an Einstein-Rossen Bridge.

  • Penrose proved, in effect, that wherever enough matter and energy were gathered, space-time could have an end.

    Academic text (1991)
  • When you do that, space-time is flat at a point.

  • Once the ship had passed, space-time would return to normal.

    Academic text (1996)
  • But I want to start with the question of space-time and machines.

  • But now you integrate over all space-time points, OK.

  • The actual curvature of space-time itself, that is.

  • But Wheeler also told us space-time tells matter how to move.

  • As the black hole grows in mass, space-time itself gets diluted.

  • Our relationship to the space-time axis will be very different from what we have lived with for millennia.

    Academic text (1995)

Synonyms

space-time continuum
vsspace-time
  • Specialized
13 8.1

A four-dimensional framework that joins space and time where events happen

is the same idea but expressed in the shorter hyphenated form
spacetime
vsspace-time
  • Specialized
8 8.0

The single thing made of space and time where everything happens

is the same concept but written with a hyphen

Surface Forms

space-time singular
space-times plural

Morphology

space-time = space + time (semi-transparent) = space + time

Both components are clear, but the combined technical meaning as a specific four-dimensional continuum is specialised and may not be obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Space-time joins two simple words: space meaning 'where things are' and time meaning 'when things happen'. A helpful image is to think of them as one 'fabric' that can bend under heavy objects, so space-time is the combined 'where' and 'when' that shapes how the universe and gravity work.