catenary
/ˈkætəˌnɛɹi/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.97 in modern English
Meaning
noun
The curve described by a flexible chain or a rope if it is supported at each end and is acted upon by no other forces than a uniform gravitational force due to its own weight and variations involving additional and non-uniform forces. It is described by the hyperbolic cosine function.
noun
Any physical cable, rope, chain, or other weight-supporting structure taking such geometric shape, as a suspension cable for a bridge or a power-transmission line or an arch for a bridge or roof.
noun
The curve of an anchor cable from the seabed to the vessel; it should be horizontal at the anchor so as to bury the flukes.
noun
A cable, the segments of which between supports take a catenary geometric shape, supporting in turn an overhead conductor that provides trains, trams or trolley buses with electricity, or (metonymic) the combination of the conductor, the cable, and supports.
Example Sentences
- "In Europe, the organizer was the hostess and her principle was catenary."
- "The structure of the model chosen was catenary, and only one nonlinearity was introduced, in that part of the model representing bone growth."
- "The sequence of soils of a more or less catenary nature as seen on the Martin Estate is about as follows :"
- "The result was catenary being torn down several hundred feet at a time."
- "The colour-lights showed up much better than the semaphores which, in spite of their approach warning boards, are not readily visible at any distance between the supports for the catenaries."
- "The electric overhead was catenary, using 0000 contact wire, and the new railway employed the latest in electric block signal systems."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: catenarius, catēna, catenaria
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkætəˌnɛɹi/
- British English: /kəˈtiːnəɹi/