Michelson-Morley experiment

proper noun

An attempt in 1887 to detect the existence of the luminiferous aether by comparing the speed of light in perpendicular directions.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Michelson-Morley experiment
  1. historicalnatural sciencesAn attempt in 1887 to detect the existence of the luminiferous aether by comparing the speed of light in perpendicular directions.

Origin

Named after American physicists Albert A. Michelson and Edward W. Morley, who performed the experiment.

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Cite this entry
APA

Michelson-Morley experiment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michelson-Morley%20experiment

MLA

“Michelson-Morley experiment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michelson-Morley%20experiment. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Michelson-Morley experiment,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michelson-Morley%20experiment.

Source: Michelson-Morley experiment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.