suction
UK: ˈsʌkʃən | US: ˈsʌkʃən
n. the process of removing air or liquid from a space to create a partial vacuum, causing adhesion or the drawing in of a substance.
vt. to remove or draw in (a substance) using suction.
suction = suc<suck> + tion<noun suffix>
- suc (from Latin sugere, meaning "to suck")
- tion (a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process, from Latin -tio)
Etymology Origin:
The word "suction" originates from the Latin verb sugere ("to suck"), combined with the noun-forming suffix -tio. The morpheme "suc" preserves the core idea of drawing in or absorbing, while "-tion" transforms the action into a process or result. Over time, the term evolved in English to describe both the physical phenomenon of creating a vacuum and the act of extracting substances through this mechanism.
The dentist used suction to remove excess saliva during the procedure.
The vacuum cleaner relies on suction to pick up dirt from the floor.
The medical device applies gentle suction to drain fluids from the wound.
Engineers improved the pump’s suction efficiency for deeper water extraction.
The octopus uses suction cups on its tentacles to grip surfaces tightly.