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brachistochrone

[ bruh-kis-tuh-krohn ]
/ brəˈkɪs təˌkroʊn /

noun Mechanics.

the curve between two points that in the shortest time by a body moving under an external force without friction; the curve of quickest descent.

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Origin of brachistochrone

1765–75; <Greek bráchisto(s) shortest (superlative of brachýsbrachy-) + chrónos time

OTHER WORDS FROM brachistochrone

bra·chis·to·chron·ic [bruh-kis-tuh-kron-ik], /brəˌkɪs təˈkrɒn ɪk/, bra·chis·toch·ro·nous [brey-kuh-stok-ruh-nuhs, brak-uh-], /ˌbreɪ kəˈstɒk rə nəs, ˌbræk ə-/, adjective

Words nearby brachistochrone

brachiocubital, brachiopod, brachioradialis, brachiosaur, brachiosaurus, brachistochrone, brachium, Bracht maneuver, brachy-, brachybasia, brachybasocamptodactyly
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for brachistochrone

  • A famous instance of this is found in what is known as the Brachistochrone problem, which was solved by John Bernouilli.

    Great Astronomers|R. S. Ball

British Dictionary definitions for brachistochrone

brachistochrone
/ (brəˈkɪstəˌkrəʊn) /

noun

maths the curve between two points through which a body moves under the force of gravity in a shorter time than for any other curve; the path of quickest descent

Word Origin for brachistochrone

C18: from Greek brakhistos, superlative of brakhus short + chronos time
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