absolute age noun (geology) see radiometric under radio-

absolute alcohol noun

Water-free alcohol

absolute ceiling noun

The altitude above sea level, in standard atmospheric conditions, at which the rate of ascent of an aircraft would be zero (cf service ceiling under service¹)

absolute humidity noun

Humidity expressed as grams of water per cubic metre of air

absolute magnitude noun

The magnitude that a star would have at a standard distance of 10 parsecs

absolute majority noun

A vote gained by a candidate which is greater than the total number of votes for all other candidates

absolute monopoly noun (economics)

A situation in which a single organization has total control over the output of a product, commodity or service for which there is no substitute

absolute music noun

Music which does not attempt to illustrate or describe (cf programme music)

absolute pitch noun

1. The pitch of a note as determined by the number of vibrations per second, perfect pitch
2. A sense of or memory for absolute pitch

absolute privilege noun (law)

A privilege that protects speakers in a parliament, law court, etc in making (even malicious) statements from the floor, from possible charges under the laws of slander

absolute temperature noun

Temperature measured on the Kelvin scale or Rankine scale

absolute undertaking noun (commerce)

A promise by a party to a contract that he or she shall take absolute responsibility for something which is necessary for the performance of the contract, eg obtaining a licence to sell the goods

absolute units plural noun

Those derived directly from fundamental units and not based on arbitrary numerical definitions

absolute value noun

The magnitude of a numerical value, irrespective of its relation to other values

absolute zero noun

The zero of the absolute scale of temperature (−273.15ºC), the lowest temperature theoretically possible, at which entropy is zero