lightspeed
Universe's velocity ceiling
Lightspeed is the speed at which light travels in a vacuum—about 186,000 miles per second, the fastest speed possible according to physics.
The term appears in science fiction for faster-than-light travel: The ship jumped to lightspeed.
Figuratively, lightspeed describes anything extremely fast: Technology is advancing at lightspeed.
Also written as two words.
Hypothetical superluminal propulsion system
- hyperspaceFaster-than-light travel medium
- FTLExceeding light speed
- starshipFictional interstellar vessel
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
wormhole · Star Trek · Star Wars · space opera · hyperdrive · subspace · Millennium Falcon · Enterprise
How observers differ
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- electromagneticInvolving electric and magnetic fields
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
spectrum · causality · time dilation · spacetime · mass-energy · E=mc² · special relativity · massless
Briefest unit of time
- flashBrief burst of light
- blinkRapid lid movement
- split-secondFraction of a moment
- immediateHappening without delay
nanosecond · swift · rapid · blazing · lightning-fast · real-time · latency · bandwidth
Obstruction preventing passage
- constantFixed, unvarying quantity
- universalAffecting all equally
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- asymptoteUnreached bounding curve
maximum · inviolable · unreachable · ceiling · absolute · finite · ultimate · bound
Most rapid of all
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- racingSpeed competition sport
- breakneckRecklessly high speed
- supersonicExceeding audio velocity
turbo · overdrive · full throttle · exponential · hyperspeed · velocity
warp drive
Hypothetical superluminal propulsion system
- hyperspaceFaster-than-light travel medium
- FTLExceeding light speed
- starshipFictional interstellar vessel
interstellar · wormhole · Star Trek · Star Wars · space opera · hyperdrive · subspace · Millennium Falcon · Enterprise · sci-fi
relativity
How observers differ
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- electromagneticInvolving electric and magnetic fields
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
frequency · spectrum · causality · time dilation · spacetime · mass-energy · E=mc² · special relativity · massless · redshift
instant
Briefest unit of time
- flashBrief burst of light
- blinkRapid lid movement
- split-secondFraction of a moment
immediate · nanosecond · swift · rapid · blazing · lightning-fast · real-time · latency · bandwidth · fiber optic
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- constantFixed, unvarying quantity
- universalAffecting all equally
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
asymptote · maximum · inviolable · unreachable · ceiling · absolute · finite · ultimate · bound · immutable
fastest
Most rapid of all
supersonic · turbo · overdrive · full throttle · exponential · hyperspeed · velocity
lightspeedstandstill
Total cessation of movement
motionless · stationary · snail's pace · dead stop · immobility
light, speed, speedy, lighten, lighting, speeding, speedily, speediness, speedometer