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vacuum

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Nature abhors a vacuum.

Prov. If there is a gap, something will fill it. Jill: As soon as the beggar who used to work that corner left, another one showed up. Jane: Nature abhors a vacuum.

See also: nature, vacuum

vacuum something out

to clean an enclosed area out with a vacuum cleaner. Please vacuum this car out now! Can you vacuum out the car?

See also: out, vacuum

vacuum something up (from something)

to clean something up from something with a vacuum cleaner. Fred vacuumed the dirt up from the carpet. He vacuumed up the birdseed from the kitchen floor.

See also: up, vacuum

in a vacuum

without any connection to other people or events These kids are growing up in a vacuum, without any guidance from their parents or anyone else.

See also: vacuum