Meanings
plural zero-point energies
- quantum mechanicsnatural sciencesThe lowest possible energy of a given quantum mechanical system.
The existence of a zero-point energy (i.e., the existence of a non-zero lower limit to the energy of a quantum-mechanical system) is a consequence of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
1 more example
2000, Stephen T. Thornton, Andrew F. Rex, Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Saunders College Publishing, page 205, Our estimate for the zero-point energy of the harmonic oscillator is hbar ω/2.
- physicalchemistryThe kinetic energy possessed by (the particle constituents of) a substance at absolute zero temperature.
The calculated zero-point energies of hydrogen at inner bulk, GB, and FS are within 0.12-0.16eV/H.
2004, Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, Volume 73, Pages 1-768, Physical Society of Japan, page 441
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- GermanNullpunktenergie
- Englishzero-point energy
Calque of German Nullpunktenergie.
More words from German
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish nollapiste-energia, nollapiste-energia
- nollapiste-energialowest possible energy of a quantum mechanical system
- nollapiste-energiaenergy possessed by an object at a temperature of absolute zero
German Nullpunktenergie, Nullpunktenergie
- Nullpunktenergielowest possible energy of a quantum mechanical system
- Nullpunktenergieenergy possessed by an object at a temperature of absolute zero
Italian energia di punto zero, energia di punto zero
- energia di punto zerolowest possible energy of a quantum mechanical system
- energia di punto zeroenergy possessed by an object at a temperature of absolute zero
Polish energia punktu zerowego, energia punktu zerowego
- energia punktu zerowegolowest possible energy of a quantum mechanical system
- energia punktu zerowegoenergy possessed by an object at a temperature of absolute zero
Romanian energie de punct zero, energie de punct zero
- energie de punct zerolowest possible energy of a quantum mechanical system
- energie de punct zeroenergy possessed by an object at a temperature of absolute zero
Cite this entry
zero-point energy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zero-point%20energy
“zero-point energy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zero-point%20energy. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zero-point energy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zero-point%20energy.
Source: zero-point energy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.