Dictionary Definition
phenomenon
Noun
1 any state or process known through the senses
rather than by intuition or reasoning
2 a remarkable development [also: phenomena (pl)]
User Contributed Dictionary
Pronunciation
Etymology
From phænomenon, from (phainomenon) "thing appearing to view" < (phainō) "I show".Noun
- The existential
reality
of "something"; not "nothing".
- The universe is a phenomenon, as is every particle of matter within it; that which is non-phenomenal does not exist because it is noumenon.
- An appearance or occurrence, usually one evoking curiosity.
- A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen but is unexplainable or questionable.
Antonyms
- noumenon (1)
Related terms
Translations
the existential reality of "something"; not
"nothing"
- Hungarian: jelenség
an appearance or occurrence
unexplainable or questionable fact or situation
Extensive Definition
A phenomenon (from Greek
φαινόμενoν, pl. φαινόμενα - phenomena) is any occurrence that is
observable. In
popular usage, a phenomenon often refers to an extraordinary
event.
Use in physics
In physics phenomena are the subject of observation. A phenomenon may be a feature of matter, energy, or spacetime. For example, Isaac Newton made observations of the phenomenon of the moon's orbit. Additionally, Galileo Galilei made observations of pendulum related phenomena.Use in gemmology
In gemmology a phenomenon is an unusual optical effect displayed by a gem. Play-of-color, labradorescence, iridescence, adularescence, chatoyancy, asterism, aventurescence and color change are all phenomena.Use in philosophy
In philosophy, the use of the word phenomenon differs from other uses in that it refers to perceived events. Phenomena may be perceived through a person's senses or with their mind.See also
References
phenomenon in Czech: Fenomén
phenomenon in Danish: Fænomen
phenomenon in German: Phänomen
phenomenon in Spanish: Fenómeno
phenomenon in Esperanto: Fenomeno
phenomenon in French: Phénomène
phenomenon in Croatian: Pojava
phenomenon in Ido: Fenomeno
phenomenon in Indonesian: Fenomena
phenomenon in Italian: Fenomeno
phenomenon in Dutch: Fenomeen
phenomenon in Japanese: 現象
phenomenon in Norwegian: Fenomen
phenomenon in Norwegian Nynorsk: Ovring
phenomenon in Polish: Zjawisko
phenomenon in Portuguese: Fenómeno
phenomenon in Romanian: Fenomen
phenomenon in Russian: Феномен
phenomenon in Albanian: Dukuria
phenomenon in Simple English: Phenomenon
phenomenon in Slovenian: Pojav
phenomenon in Finnish: Ilmiö
phenomenon in Swedish: Fenomen
phenomenon in Tamil: தோற்றப்பாடு
phenomenon in Turkish: Fenomen
phenomenon in Chinese: 現象
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
abnormality, actuality, adventure, amazement, anomaly, apparition, appearance, astonishing
thing, astonishment, circumstance, curiosity, episode, event, exception, experience, fact, false image, figure, form, gazingstock, hap, happening, happenstance, image, incident, marvel, marvelment, matter of fact,
miracle, mirage, nonesuch, occasion, occurrence, paradox, particular, peculiarity, phantom, phasm, portent, presence, prodigy, quite a thing, rarity, reality, sensation, shape, sight, singularity, something else,
spectacle, stunner, turn of events,
uniqueness, unusualness, vision, wonder, wonderful thing, wonderment