physics Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the science of matter and energy and their interactions
    natural philosophy.
    • his favorite subject was physics
  2. noun the physical properties, phenomena, and laws of something
    physical science.
    • he studied the physics of radiation
  3. noun a purging medicine; stimulates evacuation of the bowels
    aperient; purgative; cathartic; physic.

WordNet


Phys"ics noun
Etymology
See Physic.
Definitions
  1. The science of nature, or of natural objects; that branch of science which treats of the laws and properties of matter, and the forces acting upon it; especially, that department of natural science which treats of the causes (as gravitation, heat, light, magnetism, electricity, etc.) that modify the general properties of bodies; natural philosophy. Chemistry, though a branch of general physics, is commonly treated as a science by itself, and the application of physical principles which it involves constitute a branch called chemical physics, which treats more especially of those physical properties of matter which are used by chemists in defining and distinguishing substances.

Webster 1913