The process of removing air or liquid from a space to create a partial vacuum that draws in surrounding matter.
From Latin 'suctio' meaning 'a sucking', derived from 'sugere' meaning 'to suck'. The term entered English in the 17th century as understanding of atmospheric pressure developed.
Suction doesn't actually 'pull' anything - it's atmospheric pressure that pushes objects into the low-pressure area, which is why suction cups don't work in space. The humble vacuum cleaner revolutionized household cleaning by harnessing this fundamental physical principle.
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