spline

American  

[splahyn] / splaɪn /

noun

1. a long, narrow, thin strip of wood, metal, etc.; slat.

2. a long, flexible strip of wood or the like, used in drawing curves.

3. Machinery.

   1. any of a series of uniformly spaced ridges on a shaft, parallel to its axis and fitting inside corresponding grooves in the hub of a gear, etc., to transmit torque.

   2. feather key.

4. Building Trades. a thin strip of material inserted into the edges of two boards, acoustic tiles, etc., to make a butt joint between them; a feather.

5. Mathematics, Engineering. a function that has specified values at a finite number of points and consists of segments of polynomial functions joined smoothly at these points, enabling it to be used for approximation and interpolation of functions.

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verb (used with object)

Machinery.

splined, splining

1. to provide with a spline or key.

2. to provide with a keyway.

spline British  

/ splaɪn /

noun

1. any one of a series of narrow keys ( external splines ) formed longitudinally around the circumference of a shaft that fit into corresponding grooves ( internal splines ) in a mating part: used to prevent movement between two parts, esp in transmitting torque

2. a long narrow strip of wood, metal, etc; slat

3. a thin narrow strip made of wood, metal, or plastic fitted into a groove in the edge of a board, tile, etc, to connect it to another

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verb

1. (tr) to provide (a shaft, part, etc) with splines

Etymology

Origin of spline

First recorded in 1750–60; originally East Anglian dialect ; perhaps akin to splint; compare Old English splin “spindle”

Example Sentences

Spline, splīn, n. in machines, the slot to receive a feather, the feather itself: a long flexible strip of wood or rubber used by draftsmen in laying out railway-curves, &c.—v.t. to fit with a spline.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various