zero-gravity n.

the state or condition in which there is no apparent force of gravity acting on a body, either because the force is locally weak, or because both the body and its surroundings are freely and equally accelerating under the force

  • 1938 J. Binder If Science Reached Earth’s Core in Thrilling Wonder Stories Oct. 99 page image Jack Binder bibliography

    Starting at the zero-gravity of earth’s core, accumulative acceleration is easily built up in a four-thousand-mile tube.

  • 1955 B. Walton Moon of the World in Fantastic Story Winter 65/1 page image Bryce Walton bibliography

    Everyone has an initial terror of weightlessness when they hit zero gravity. Most can adapt to it after a while if it’s just a physical problem.

  • 1963 R. A. Heinlein Podkayne of Mars in Worlds of If Jan. 68/2 page image Robert A. Heinlein bibliography

    Bergitta really knew how to handle herself in zero gravity, with unabrupt graceful movements like a dancer in a slow-motion solly.

  • 1979 A. C. Clarke Fountains of Paradise 169 Arthur C. Clarke bibliography

    A space-station assembly supervisor, accustomed to working under zero gravity, had forgotten that though he was in space he was not in orbit—and a lifetime’s experience had betrayed him.

  • 1985 O. S. Card Ender’s Game iii. 24 Orson Scott Card bibliography

    Day after day, in zero gravity, there are mock battles.

  • 1994 Analog Science Fiction & Fact Jan. 187/2

    About a decade ago, discussion of space-station experiments shifted terminology from ‘zero-gravity’ to ‘microgravity.’

  • 2013 SciFiNow (#85) 54

    Mission to Mars…. Brian De Palma’s punishingly dull 2000 movie gave an accurate depiction of the process of conducting repairs in zero gravity, but failed to get our pulses racing.

Research requirements

antedating 1938
Earliest cite

1938 J. Binder 'If Science Reached The Earth's Core'
Research History
Mike Christie submitted a 1938 cite from Jack Binder's "If Science Reached The Earth's Core". Earliest cite in the OED: 1951.

Last modified 2021-01-27 03:09:57
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.