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laminar flow

laminar flow

1 6.4
A liquid or gas moves in smooth layers that flow side by side with little mixing
  • noun
  • /ˈlæmɪnər floʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : flujo laminar
  • In tests, NACA's laminar-flow airfoils reduced airfoil drag by almost 50 percent.
  • laminar flow airfoils
  • laminar flow meter
  • maintain laminar flow

Examples

  • In a laboratory, we must ensure laminar flow to prevent contamination during sensitive experiments.

  • The serum pools were manipulated in a laminar flow cabinet, separate from any virus samples, to avoid cross-contamination.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The finish was not smooth enough to maintain much laminar flow.

    Academic text (2003)
  • If this treadmill is very long and very wide, we can assume laminar flow over the surface.

    Blog text (1)
  • This will allow for uniform laminar flow at the UV modules and minimum head loss.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Laminar flow is the smooth, uninterrupted flow of air over the contour of the wings.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Meanwhile, in the coronary arteries, regardless of the cardiac cycle, laminar flows are consistently observed even though the flow velocity slightly varies according to the cardiac cycle.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The design of the piping system allows for laminar flow, minimizing turbulence and improving the efficiency of the fluid transport.

  • Laminar flow is crucial for ensuring a smooth movement of air over airplane wings, which improves fuel efficiency.

Antonyms

turbulent flow
  • Specialized
7.9

Fast, changing movement of water or air that makes swirls

How Laminar

fluid motion
2 3.8
laminar flow
  • Specialized
1 6.4
turbulent flow
  • Specialized
7.9

Surface Forms

laminar flow singular
laminar flows plural

Morphology

laminar + flow

The meaning 'movement of a fluid in smooth parallel layers' is directly and transparently built from 'laminar' (describing smooth, layer-like flow) plus 'flow' (movement of a fluid). This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition used in scientific terminology and is inferable by a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Laminar flow comes from the image of a laminar or layered flow: imagine many thin sheets of water sliding past each other in straight lines without mixing. That's why it means 'smooth movement without mixing', the opposite of a rough, 'chaotic' flow.