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(), n.[F. moment, L. momentum, for movimentum movement, motion, moment, fr. movere to move. See Move, and cf. Momentum, Movement.] 1. A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant; as, at that very moment. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Cor. xv. 52. 2. Impulsive power; force; momentum. The moments or quantities of motion in bodies. Berkeley. Touch, with lightest moment of impulse, His free will. Milton. 3. Importance, as in influence or effect; consequence; weight or value; consideration. Matters of great moment. Shak. It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less moment and consequence of us than the others. Bentley. 4. An essential element; a deciding point, fact, or consideration; an essential or influential circumstance. 5. (Math.) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement. [Obs.] 6. (Mech.) Tendency, or measure of tendency, to produce motion, esp. motion about a fixed point or axis. Moment of a couple (Mech.) スポンサード リンク
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