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midplane

midplane

9.8
An imaginary flat surface that divides the body into equal left and right halves
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪdˌpleɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plano medio
  • In this top view of the condensate midplane, the brightness is proportional to the amplitude of the wave function, and the color represents the wave function phase.
  • galactic midplane

Examples

  • This figure shows well-developed central rings in a face-on representation of the midplane density of a protoplanetary disk with gravitational instabilities.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Lawrence wanted to alleviate the problem with so-called fish shims that would be anchored at midplane like a flat fish.

    Academic text (2006)
  • PHOTO (COLOR): A representation of midplane density for a disk with extremely rapid cooling that has broken up into many Jupiter-mass clumps.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The optically active layer in such a microcavity is typically a GaAs quantum well located at the midplane of the cavity, where the field strength is a maximum.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The astronomers studied the motion of stars near the galactic midplane to understand their formation.

  • In a protoplanetary disk, materials tend to accumulate in the midplane, leading to the formation of planets.

  • The midplane of the galaxy divides it into equal halves, helping scientists map its structure.

Synonyms

midline
vsmidplane
  • Specialized
7 5.3

A line you imagine that divides the body into left and right halves

is only the flat dividing surface rather than a line
center line
vsmidplane
  • US
5 3.4

A line that divides a shape into two equal parts

is limited to bodies and body parts rather than general shapes
centerline
vsmidplane
  • Specialized
2 3.9

A line that divides a shape or road into two equal parts through its middle

is used specifically for bodies and body parts rather than all objects

Antonyms

405 1.0

On the outside and farther from the center

Surface Forms

midplane singular
midplanes plural

Morphology

midplane = plane (transparent) = mid + plane

The meaning is directly built from 'mid' (middle) + 'plane' (a flat surface), so a learner who knows both components can infer it refers to the central dividing plane.

Etymology

Midplane combines mid- meaning 'middle', like in midnight, and plane meaning 'flat surface', so it names the flat middle surface that divides a body into equal left and right halves.