FUNICULAR

funicular

(adjective) relating to or operated by a cable; “funicular railway”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

funicular (comparative more funicular, superlative most funicular)

Of, pertaining to, resembling, or powered by a rope or cable

(medicine) Of or pertaining to the umbilical cord.

(botany) Having a fleshy covering of the seed formed from the funiculus, the attachment point of the seed.

Noun

funicular (plural funiculars)

A particular type of rail transit system which ascends a steep urban or mountain incline, having usually two cars sharing a single track, with the cars linked by a cable and an arrangement of pulleys such that the descending car assists in the hoisting of the ascending car, i.e. the two cars serve as counterweights for each other.

Source: Wiktionary

Fu*nic"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. funiculaire.]

1. Consisting of a small cord or fiber.

2. Dependent on the tension of a cord.

3. (Anat.)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition