Mach

A surname from Czech.

Proper noun

  1. A surname from Czech.
  2. Ernst Mach, Austrian physicist (1838–1916), born in Moravia (now Czech Republic).

Origin

* As a Polish, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Lower Sorbian surname, from pet forms produced by truncation of personal names beginning with Ma- such as Matej, Martin, or Maciej, and the addition of the Slavic suffix -ch. * As a Jewish surname, from German Mache (“work”). * Less commonly, a respelling of Hungarian Mács, a pet form of names corresponding to Matthew. * In some cases, from Vietnamese (Mạch, itself from the Chinese name 麥 /麦) or Cambodian, from Khmer ម៉ាច (maac).

Noun

  1. A ratio of the speed (of an object, etc.) to the speed of sound in the fluid or other medium through which the object travels. Usually used to describe supersonic speeds; always precedes the Mach number.
    • The jet traveled at Mach 3.
  2. Clipping of Machiavellian.
    • The 1992 review concluded that Machs are generally less satisfied with their jobs. - 2013, Mark R. Leary, Rick H. Hoyle, Handbook of Individual Differences in Social Behavior, page 97:

Forms

Machs

Derived

Mach diamond Mach effect Mach front Machmeter Mach number Mach stem Mach tuck Mach wave