horror vacui
nounUK /ˈhɒɹ.ə ˈvæ.kjuː.aɪ/ · US /ˈhɔɹ.ɚ ˈvæ.kju.aɪ/
Etymology From Latin horror vacuī (“fear of empty space”), from horror (“horror, fear”) + vacuum (“vacuum”).
1
Sciences Historical The Aristotelian principle that there are no vacuums in nature.
2
The abhorrence of a vacuum; the general tendency to dislike empty space.
- It is merely the horror vacui of human reason in general which leads it to recoil when it comes across an idea about which no thought is possible, […]1991, Kant: Political Writings, →ISBN, page 212:
3
Art, Arts In particular, the tendency of an artist (or of art) to fill an entire surface with detail, leaving no blank space.
- The Where's Wally? series exhibits horror vacui.
- Related terms
- in a vacuum, nature abhors a vacuum