Dictionary

catenary en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈkætəˌnɛɹi/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /kəˈtiːnəɹi/ (UK)
• /kəˈtɛnəɹi/ (UK)

Etymology

From Latin catenarius, from Latin catēna (“chain”).

Meanings

1. Relating to a chain; like a chain.
   • In Europe, the organizer was the hostess and her principle was catenary. 1997, S.A.M. Adshead, Material Culture in Europe and China, 1400–1800: The Rise of Consumerism, →ISBN:
   • The structure of the model chosen was catenary, and only one nonlinearity was introduced, in that part of the model representing bone growth. 1983, Keith Godfrey, Compartmental Models and Their Application, page 242:
2. Relating to a catena.
   • The sequence of soils of a more or less catenary nature as seen on the Martin Estate is about as follows : 1960, Kenya. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Survey of the Songhor Area, Kenya, page 93:

Forms

Deriveds

polycatenary

Relateds

catenated · concatenated

Translations (1)

es catenario (Translations)

catenary en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈkætəˌnɛɹi/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /kəˈtiːnəɹi/ (UK)
• /kəˈtɛnəɹi/ (UK)

Etymology

From Late Latin catenaria, in turn from Latin catēna (“chain”). Attested since 1788.

Meanings

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
   • In addition the catenary itself is divided into 1-2 km sections (corresponding to mechanical sections or tension lengths) with motorized remotely controlled sectioning off-load isolators such that only one train is likely to be immobilized at any one time as a result of an incident associated with the catenary system. 1995, The Channel Tunnel: Transport systems, →ISBN, page 22:
   • The colour-lights showed up much better than the semaphores which, in spite of their approach warning boards, are not readily visible at any distance between the supports for the catenaries. 1962 April, P. W. B. Semmens, “The Netherlands Railways today”, in Modern Railways, page 241:
   • Overhead construction was catenary rather than a single wire to allow the use of pantographs instead of trolley poles so that speeds could be higher. 2009, Jan Young, Studebaker and the Railroads, volume 2, page 47:
   • The result was catenary being torn down several hundred feet at a time. 1958, The Railway Review: An Intelligent Survey of Transit News and Trends:
   • The electric overhead was catenary, using 0000 contact wire, and the new railway employed the latest in electric block signal systems. 1977, Paul Castelhun Trimble, Interurban Railways of the Bay Area, page 119:

Forms

Deriveds

catenary bridge

Relateds

catenated · concatenated

Synonyms

alysoid · chainette

Translations (34)

es catenaria (power lines above tracks) · ga cuar (curve of an anchor cable) · ru цепная ли́ния (curve of a flexible chain) · pl krzywa łańcuchowa (curve of an anchor cable) · kk тізбекті сызық (curve of a flexible chain) · de Kettenlinie (curve of a flexible chain) · ru контактная сеть (power lines above tracks) · ar سِلْك (power lines above tracks) · hu kötélgörbe (curve of a flexible chain) · nl kettinglijn (curve of a flexible chain) · es catenaria (curve of a flexible chain) · ga cuar slabhra (curve of an anchor cable) · mk синџирка (curve of a flexible chain) · ca catenària (curve of a flexible chain) · fr caténaire (power lines above tracks) · fi ajolanka (power lines above tracks) · it catenaria (curve of a flexible chain) · ja 懸垂線 (curve of a flexible chain) · fi ketjukäyrä (curve of an anchor cable) · cs řetězovka (curve of a flexible chain) · pl krzywa łańcuchowa (curve of a flexible chain) · fi ketjukäyrä (curve of a flexible chain) · nb kjøreledning (power lines above tracks) · pl sieć przewodów trakcyjnych (power lines above tracks) · nn køyreleidning (power lines above tracks) · da køreledning (power lines above tracks) · fr chaînette (curve of a flexible chain) · de Oberleitung (power lines above tracks) · he קו שרשרת (curve of a flexible chain) · sv kedjekurva (curve of a flexible chain) · hu láncgörbe (curve of a flexible chain) · ja 懸垂曲線 (curve of a flexible chain) · cmn 懸鏈線 /悬链线 (curve of a flexible chain) · ro linie aeriană de contact (power lines above tracks)