levitation
Defying gravity's pull
Levitation is the act of rising or floating in the air without visible support, defying gravity.
The word most often appears in contexts of magic, illusion, or supernatural phenomena—a magician levitates an assistant, or a meditating monk reportedly achieves levitation through spiritual practice.
In physics, levitation refers to suspending objects using magnetic fields, acoustic waves, or other forces: The superconductor achieved stable levitation above the magnet.
The verb form is levitate.
Remain suspended midair
- floatBuoyant object or vehicle
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- driftGradual movement, no direction
- glideMove with effortless continuity
weightlessness · buoyancy · anti-gravity · hovering · airborne · suspended · rising · uplift
Mental object manipulation
- psychokinesisMind-powered object manipulation
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- seanceRitual to contact spirits
- mediumMiddle size or state
apparition · possession · exorcism · paranormal · occult · demonic · saint · miracle
Trackless-seeming rail technology
- magneticAttracting iron or attention
- superconductorMaterial with zero electrical resistance
- hoverboardSelf-balancing electric rideable
- hovercraftFan-supported amphibious vehicle
electromagnetic · repulsion · acoustic · ultrasonic · diamagnetic · ferrofluid · coil · rail
Extremely weak gravitational force
- zero-gInformal term for weightlessness
- weightlessnessAbsence of apparent mass
- spacewalkVenturing outside a spacecraft
- orbitCurved celestial path
free-fall · astronaut · cosmonaut · floating · vacuum · capsule · ISS · lunar
Misleading sensory impression
- trickDeliberate deception
- sleightDexterous trickery
- magicianPerformer of illusions
- illusionistPerformer of visual deception
performance · misdirection · Houdini · spectacle · showmanship · assistant · sawing · vanishing
Beyond ordinary experience
- yogaMind-body exercise discipline
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
mantra · chakra · kundalini · spiritual · consciousness · stillness · serenity · zen
hover
Remain suspended midair
- floatBuoyant object or vehicle
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- driftGradual movement, no direction
glide · weightlessness · buoyancy · anti-gravity · hovering · airborne · suspended · rising · uplift · ascend
telekinesis
Mental object manipulation
- psychokinesisMind-powered object manipulation
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- seanceRitual to contact spirits
medium · apparition · possession · exorcism · paranormal · occult · demonic · saint · miracle · ascension
maglev
Trackless-seeming rail technology
- magneticAttracting iron or attention
- superconductorMaterial with zero electrical resistance
- hoverboardSelf-balancing electric rideable
hovercraft · electromagnetic · repulsion · acoustic · ultrasonic · diamagnetic · ferrofluid · coil · rail · frictionless
microgravity
Extremely weak gravitational force
- zero-gInformal term for weightlessness
- weightlessnessAbsence of apparent mass
- spacewalkVenturing outside a spacecraft
orbit · free-fall · astronaut · cosmonaut · floating · vacuum · capsule · ISS · lunar · suborbital
illusion
Misleading sensory impression
illusionist · performance · misdirection · Houdini · spectacle · showmanship · assistant · sawing · vanishing · prop
transcendental
Beyond ordinary experience
- yogaMind-body exercise discipline
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
trance · mantra · chakra · kundalini · spiritual · consciousness · stillness · serenity · zen · contemplation
- pseudosciencehomeopathy, astrology, phrenology, numerology, palmistry
- supernatural statesenchanted, bewitched, hexed, cursed, possessed
- Fringe Sciencecold fusion, perpetual motion, alchemy, astrology, phrenology
- Telekinesistelekinesis, psychokinesis, PK, mind over matter, spoon bending
- magicwizard, wand, sorcerer, witchcraft, mage
- illusionsmirage, optical illusion, hallucination, illusion, afterimage
levitationfalling
Moving downward freely
descent · dropping · sinking · plummeting · plunging
levitationgravitation
Mutual pull between masses
gravity · gravitational pull · weight · heaviness · earthbound
- magnetic levitationSuspension through electromagnetic force
- quantum levitationSuperconductor suspended by magnetism