- physics
- physics [fiz′iks]n.[transl. of L physica, physics < Gr (ta) physika (lit., natural things), name given to the physical treatises of ARISTOTLE: see PHYSIC]1. Obs. natural philosophy2.a) the science dealing with the properties, changes, interactions, etc. of matter and energy in which energy is considered to be continuous (classical physics), including electricity, heat, optics, mechanics, etc., and now also dealing with the atomic scale of nature in which energy is considered to be discrete (quantum physics), including such branches as atomic, nuclear, and solid-state physicsb) a specific system of physics3. a book or treatise on any of thesepl.n.physical properties or processes [the physics of flight]
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.