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Glite Dictionary
⛓️ Chain-shaped ➰ A hanging curve
catenarian

catenarian

9.9
A curve that a hanging chain or cable makes under its own weight
  • noun
  • /ˌkætəˈnɛəriən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : catenario
  • The catenarian shape of the bridge is visually striking.

Examples

  • The bridge's suspension cables followed a perfect catenarian shape between the towers.

  • Engineers calculated the catenarian to ensure the cable would support the required load.

  • Artists sometimes use the catenarian as inspiration for elegant, natural curves in their work.

  • Engineers study the properties of catenarians in architecture.

  • The engineer decided to use a catenarian design for the suspension bridge to allow for flexibility and strength.

  • In mathematics, a catenarian is represented by the hyperbolic cosine function, showing how it naturally forms a curve.

  • As the cable hung down, it formed a perfect catenarian shape, illustrating the principles of tension and gravity.

Synonyms

catenary
vscatenarian
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A curved line that a hanging chain makes between two supports like poles

is the general name for such a curve without the technical precision

How Curved

curve
209 2.3
catenarian
  • Specialized
9.9
arc
73 3.2
straight line
49 1.0

Surface Forms

catenarian singular
catenarians plural

Morphology

catenarian = catenary (transparent) = catenary + ian

The noun sense denotes the curve itself or something of that type and is transparently derived from 'catenary' with the adjectival/nominal suffix '-ian'.

Etymology

Catenarian comes from the Latin catena ('chain') and the word catenary, which names the curve a hanging chain makes. So a catenarian curve is the same graceful shape you get when a chain or cable hangs between two points.