moment

mo·ment   (mō'mənt)    n.   A brief, indefinite interval of time. A specific point in time, especially the present time: He is not here at the moment. A particular period of importance, influence, or significance in a series of events or developments: a great moment in history; waiting for her big moment. Outstanding significance or value; importance: a discovery of great moment. A brief period of time that is characterized by a quality, such as excellence, suitability, or distinction: a lackluster performance that nevertheless had its moments. Philosophy An essential or constituent element, as of a complex idea. A phase or an aspect of a logically developing process. The product of a quantity and its perpendicular distance from a reference point. The tendency to cause rotation about a point or an axis. Abbr. M Physics The product of a quantity and its perpendicular distance from a reference point. The tendency to cause rotation about a point or an axis. Statistics The expected value of a positive integral power of a random variable. The first moment is the mean of the distribution. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin mōmentum, from *movimentum; see momentum.] Synonyms: These nouns denote a brief interval of time. A moment is an indeterminately short but significant period: I'll be with you in a moment. Instant is a period of time almost too brief to detect; it implies haste: He hesitated for just an instant. Minute is often interchangable with moment and second with instant: The alarm will ring any minute. I'll be back in a second. Jiffy and flash usually combine with in a; in a jiffy means in a short space of time, while in a flash suggests the almost imperceptible duration of a flash of light: "He was on his stool in a jiffy, driving away with his pen" (Charles Dickens). She finished the job in a flash. See Also Synonyms at importance.

Moment

Mo"ment\, n. [F. moment, L. momentum, for movimentum movement, motion, moment, fr. movere to move. See Move, and cf. Momentum, Movement.]

1. A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant; as, at thet very moment.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. --1 Cor. xv. 52.

2. Impulsive power; force; momentum.

The moments or quantities of motion in bodies. --Berkley.

Touch, with lightest moment of impulse, His free will. --Milton.

3. Importance, as in influence or effect; consequence; weight or value; consideration.

Matters of great moment. --Shak.

It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less moment and consequence of us than the others. --Bentley.

4. An essential element; a deciding point, fact, or consideration; an essential or influential circumstance.

5. (Math.) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement. [Obs.]

6. (Mech.) Tendency, or measure of tendency, to produce motion, esp. motion about a fixed point or axis.

Moment of a couple (Mech.), the product of either of its forces into the perpendicular distance between them.

Moment of a force. (Mech.) (a) With respect to a point, the product of the intensity of the force into the perpendicular distance from the point to the line of direction of the force. (b) With respect to a line, the product of that component of the force which is perpendicular to the plane passing through the line and the point of application of the force, into the shortest distance between the line and this point. (c) With respect to a plane that is parallel to the force, the product of the force into the perpendicular distance of its point of application from the plane.

Moment of inertia, of a rotating body, the sum of the mass of each particle of matter of the body into the square of its distance from the axis of rotation; -- called also moment of rotation and moment of the mass.

Statical moment, the product of a force into its leverage; the same as moment of a force with respect to a point, line, etc.

Virtual moment. See under Virtual.

Syn: Instant; twinkling; consequence; weight; force; value; consideration; signification; avail.

moment 

moment

In addition to the idiom beginning with moment, also see at this point (moment); every minute (moment) counts; for the moment; have one's moments; just a minute (moment); live for the moment; never a dull moment; not for a moment; of the moment; on the spur of the moment; weak moment.