the natural force that pulls objects toward the centre of the Earth or any other large body in space
The apple slipped from the tree and fell to the ground because of gravity.
Astronauts on the Moon experience weaker gravity than on Earth.
✦ From Old French gravité, from Latin gravitās “heaviness, weight, seriousness”, from gravis “heavy”.
the seriousness or importance of a situation, decision, or manner
Everyone understood the gravity of the situation when the power plant shut down.
Her voice carried a sense of gravity that made the room fall silent.
✦ Sense of “seriousness” developed in the 16th century from the earlier Latin meaning of weight and heaviness.
