ラテン語のquantus, how much, how many, -um, neuterから。物理名詞quantumで使われる。
英語の語源
quantum (n.)
1610s, "one's share or portion," from Latin quantum (plural quanta) "as much as, so much as; how much? how far? how great an extent?" neuter singular of correlative pronominal adjective quantus "as much" (see quantity). Introduced in physics directly from Latin by Max Planck, 1900; reinforced by Einstein, 1905. Quantum theory is from 1912; quantum mechanics, 1922; quantum jump is first recorded 1954; quantum leap, 1963, often figurative.
例文
1. The scale of migration took a quantum leap in the early 1970 s.
1970年代初頭、移民の規模は急激に拡大した。
2.Both quantum mechanics and chaos theory suggest a world constantly in flux.
量子力学とカオス理論は、世界が永遠に変化し続けることを示している。
3.The vaccine represents a quantum leap in healthcare.
このワクチンの登場は医療保健分野の重大な突破である。
4.Each person receives his proper quantum .
1人につき1つずつ必要なものを得る。
5.His mind moves in quantum leaps，manipulating ideas and jumping on to new ones as soon as he can.