catenary

[ kat-n-er-ee; especially British kuh-tee-nuh-ree ]
See synonyms for catenary on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural cat·e·nar·ies.
  1. Mathematics. the curve assumed approximately by a heavy uniform cord or chain hanging freely from two points not in the same vertical line. Equation: y = kcosh(x/k).

  2. (in electric railroads) the cable, running above the track, from which the trolley wire is suspended.

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or resembling a catenary.

  2. of or relating to a chain or linked series.

Origin of catenary

1
1780–90; <Latin catēnārius relating to a chain, equivalent to catēn(a) a chain + -ārius-ary

Words Nearby catenary

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How to use catenary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for catenary

catenary

/ (kəˈtiːnərɪ) /


nounplural -ries
  1. the curve assumed by a heavy uniform flexible cord hanging freely from two points. When symmetrical about the y- axis and intersecting it at y = a, the equation is y = a cosh x / a

  2. the hanging cable between pylons along a railway track, from which the trolley wire is suspended

adjectiveAlso: catenarian (ˌkætɪˈnɛərɪən)
  1. of, resembling, relating to, or constructed using a catenary or suspended chain

Origin of catenary

1
C18: from Latin catēnārius relating to a chain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012