tractrix

American  

[trak-triks] / ˈtræk trɪks /

noun

Geometry.

tractrices plural

1. a curve whose tangents are all of equal length; the involute of a catenary.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tractrices
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tractrix

1720–30; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin trac-, variant stem of trahere to draw, pull + -trīx -trix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tractrix

The involute of the catenary is called the tractory, tractrix or antifriction curve; it has a cusp at the vertex of the catenary, and is asymptotic to the directrix.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various