catenary
The curve described by a flexible chain or a rope if it is supported at each end and…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.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Meaning
4 sensesThe 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.
Kettenlinie
цепная ли́нияcepnaja
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.
Oberleitung
контактная сетьkontaktnaja setʹ
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.
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.
- the curve theoretically assumed by a perfectly flexible and inextensible cord of uniform density and cross section hanging freely from two fixed points
Origin
From Late Latin catenaria, in turn from Latin catēna (“chain”). Attested since 1788.From Late Latin catenaria, in turn from Latin catēna (“chain”). Attested since 1788.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: catenaries| Singular | catenary |
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| Plural | catenaries |
regular
Word family
2 related wordsSee also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.