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VAK-yoom/ˈvækjuːm/

A vacuum (vacuum cleaner) sucks dirt from floors: use the vacuum, empty the vacuum, a bagless vacuum. The verb is vacuum the carpet. Brush and mop are other cleaning tools. Vacuum is also empty space in science — extra at A2. Do not write vacuum when you mean vacuum flask (a hot-drink bottle) without context.

Meaning

A machine that sucks dirt from floors and carpets.

Examples

• “He ran the vacuum over the sitting-room rug.”
• “She ran the vacuum round the sofa after the party.”
• “The hostel vacuum was broken, so they swept instead.”

Good to know

use the vacuum / vacuum the carpet. Cousins: brush, mop. Full name: vacuum cleaner.

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