funicular
adj 1: relating to or operated by a cable; "funicular railway"
n 1: a railway up the side of a mountain pulled by a moving
cable and having counterbalancing ascending and descending
cars [syn: cable railway, funicular, funicular
railway}]
funicular I. adjectiveEtymology: Latin funiculusDate: 1664 1. having
the form of or associated with a cord usually under tension 2. [New
Latin funiculus] of, relating to, or being a funiculus 3.
of, relating to, or being a funicular <a funicular system>
II. nounDate: 1911
a cable railway ascending a mountain; especially one in which an
ascending car counterbalances a descending car
funicular adj. & n. --adj. 1 (of a railway, esp. on a mountainside) operating by cable with ascending and descending cars counterbalanced. 2 of a rope or its tension. --n. a funicular
railway. Etymology: L funiculus f. funis rope
funicular
A funicular or a funicular railway is a type of railway which goes up a very
steep hill or mountain. A machine at the top of the slope pulls the carriage up the rails by
a steel rope.
N-SING
Funicular \Fu*nic"u*lar\, a. [Cf. F. funiculaire.]
1. Consisting of a small cord or fiber.
2. Dependent on the tension of a cord.
3. (Anat.) Pertaining to a funiculus; made up of, or
resembling, a funiculus, or funiculi; as, a funicular
ligament.
Funicular action (Mech.), the force or action exerted by a
rope in drawing together the supports to which its ends
are Fastened, when acted upon by forces applied in a
direction transverse to the rope, as in the archer's bow.
Funicular curve. Same as Catenary.
Funicular machine (Mech.), an apparatus for illustrating
certain principles in statics, consisting of a cord or
chain attached at one end to a fixed point, and having the
other passed over a pulley and sustaining a weight, while
one or more other weights are suspended from the cord at
points between the fixed support and the pulley.
Funicular polygon (Mech.), the polygonal figure assumed by
a cord fastened at its extremities, and sustaining weights
at different points.
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