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laminar

laminar

1 8.1
Made of thin layers or flowing smoothly in parallel layers
  • adjective
  • /ˈlæmɪnər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : laminar
  • FEA lets engineers simulate a wide variety of physical phenomena, including laminar flow, turbulent flow, impact, and nonlinear geometric or material simulations.
  • laminar flow

Examples

  • Reynolds numbers tell us the airflow may shift from turbulent at high speeds to more laminar flow at slower speeds.

  • Already, research has shown that the flow around microscale devices is usually laminar, and inertial forces are small in comparison with viscous forces.

    Academic text (2005)
  • So if the fluid velocity is rather high and laminar, you will get some sort of smooth surface.

  • However, the precise mechanisms through which laminar projection patterns become established are still under investigation.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Table tops are available in four standard top designs to accommodate various laminar air-flow requirements.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The P-51 Mustang was the first aircraft designed to use laminar flow airfoils.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Only a few species with thin, laminar leaves have stomata exclusively on the upper leaf side (e.g., lily pads; Brewer and Smith 1995).

    Academic text (1997)
  • Small scales can be crucial to the realization of certain types of assays, for example, where laminar flow in capillaries is required or where fast heat dissipation can reduce processing time, as in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

    Academic text (2001)
  • In a laminar flow, the fluid moves smoothly in parallel layers without turbulence.

  • The scientist explained that the laminar nature of the stream allows for better aerodynamics.

Synonyms

laminal
vslaminar
  • Specialized
9.9

Something that has thin flat layers lying on top of each other

emphasizes smooth parallel movement of fluid in thin layers
multilamellar
vslaminar
  • Specialized
9.5

Having several thin layers stacked together

focuses on smooth parallel fluid movement rather than simply many sheets
fluidic
vslaminar
6.7

Having smooth, flowing movement like a liquid

highlights layered parallel flow instead of general fluid motion

Antonyms

turbulent
  • Specialized
7 6.6

Moving fast in a violent, irregular way that is not smooth

Compounds

laminar flow
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A liquid or gas moves in smooth layers that flow side by side with little mixing

7.2

A clean room where air moves in smooth parallel layers to keep tiny particles away during work like making microchips

How Laminar

streamlined
2 4.5
laminar
  • Specialized
1 8.1
turbulent
  • Specialized
7 6.6

Surface Forms

laminar positive

Morphology

laminar = lamina (semi-transparent) = lamina + ar

Formed by the productive suffix '-ar' added to 'lamina' so the relation to 'thin layer' is direct, but 'lamina' is a specialized/low-frequency base that many learners may not know.

Etymology

The word laminar comes from the Latin lamina, meaning 'thin layer'. You can see the same root in laminate, which means 'to make layers', so laminar describes things arranged in thin layers or a smooth flow of fluid in parallel layers.