plenum
Americannoun
plural
plenums, plena-
the state or a space in which a gas, usually air, is contained at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
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a full assembly, as a joint legislative assembly.
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a space, usually above a ceiling or below a floor, that can serve as a receiving chamber for air that has been heated or cooled to be distributed to inhabited areas.
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the whole of space regarded as being filled with matter (vacuum ).
noun
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an enclosure containing gas at a higher pressure than the surrounding environment
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a fully attended meeting or assembly, esp of a legislative body
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(esp in the philosophy of the Stoics) space regarded as filled with matter Compare vacuum
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the condition or quality of being full
Etymology
Origin of plenum
1670–80; < Latin, neuter of plēnus full 1, in the phrase plēnum ( spatium ) full (space)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The report came ahead of the fourth plenum of the Chinese Communist Party this weekend reaffirming its “One China” principle and voting to designate Oct.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025
The readout of China’s recently concluded fourth plenum signals a continuation of current policy directions, with an emphasis on technology and innovation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025
This week’s plenum also promoted Gen. Zhang Shengmin, an ordinary member of the Central Military Commission, to vice chairman.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025
The fourth such "plenum" to be held during the current committee's 2022-2027 term, this session will focus on proposals for the 15th five-year plan on economic and social development, state media say.
From Barron's • Oct. 18, 2025
The early universe was filled with radiation and a plenum of matter, originally hydrogen and helium, formed from elementary particles in the dense primeval fireball.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
