freefall

See also: free-fall and free fall

English

Alternative forms

free fall (noun only)
free-fall (verb, noun as a modifier)

Etymology

free +‎ fall

Noun

freefall (uncountable)

(physics) The state of being in a motion affected by no acceleration (force) other than that provided by gravity.
(common usage) The state of falling with no interference from outside forces other than the air resistance (no open parachute, etc.)
(by extension) The state of worsening out of control.
As civil war continues in Iraq, the U.S. president's approval ratings are in freefall.

Derived terms

accelerated free fall
acceleration of free fall
free-fall style
free-fall time

in freefall
progressive free fall
universality of free fall

Translations

being affected only by gravity

Czech: volný pád m
Finnish: vapaa pudotus

French: chute libre (fr) f
Portuguese: queda livre f

falling through atmosphere without additional drag devices

Finnish: vapaa pudotus
French: chute libre (fr) f

Italian: caduta libera f
Portuguese: queda livre f

state of worsening out of control

Finnish: vapaa pudotus
Italian: caduta libera f

Portuguese: queda livre f

Verb

freefall (third-person singular simple present freefalls, present participle freefalling, simple past freefell, past participle freefallen)

To drop in a state of freefall.
A base jumper attempts to freefall for as long as possible before triggering the parachute.

Derived terms

free-falling

Translations

to drop in freefall

Finnish: pudota vapaasti

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