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dash-pot

dash-pot

9.6
A device with a piston that moves through liquid or air to slow sudden movement in machines
  • noun
  • /ˈdæʃˌpɒt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : amortiguador
  • The engineer added a dash-pot to the mechanism to minimize vibrations during operation.

Examples

  • Shock absorbers in vehicles often use a dash-pot to ensure a smooth ride over bumps.

  • If the dash-pot fails, the door may slam shut instead of closing gently.

  • The dash-pot is broken.

  • Watch out for the dash-pot!

  • An effective dash-pot can significantly reduce noise from machinery by damping vibrations.

  • The car's suspension system incorporates a dash-pot to smooth out the ride on uneven surfaces.

  • In order to enhance the performance of the equipment, the technician installed a new dash-pot.

Synonyms

dashpot
vsdash-pot
  • Specialized
9.1

A device that slows and controls moving parts by using oil to resist motion

gives structural detail of a piston moving through a fluid chamber to damp vibration

Surface Forms

dash-pot singular
dash-pots plural

Morphology

dash-pot = dash + pot (semi-transparent) = dash + pot

The compound is analyzable as 'dash' + 'pot', but the technical damping device meaning is specialized and not directly predictable from the components for a general learner.

Etymology

Dash-pot is easy to picture: dash means 'move quickly' and pot means 'container', so imagine a machine part dashing into a little pot of oil. That's why a dash-pot is a small container with fluid that pushes back on movement to slow or soften motion.