SPLINE

slat, spline

(noun) a thin strip (wood or metal)

spline

(noun) a flexible strip (wood or rubber) used in drawing curved lines

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

spline (plural splines)

Long thin piece of metal or wood. [from the mid 18th c]

A rectangular piece that fits grooves like key seats in a hub and a shaft, so that while the one may slide endwise on the other, both must revolve together.

A flexible strip of metal or other material, that may be bent into a curve and used in a similar manner to a ruler to draw smooth curves between points.

(mathematics, computing) Any of a number of smooth curves used to join points.

(woodworking) A strip of wood or other material inserted into grooves in each of two pieces of wood to provide additional surface for gluing.

(mechanics) Ridges or teeth on a drive shaft that mesh with grooves in a mating piece and transfer torque to it, maintaining the angular correspondence between them.

Coordinate terms

• (woodworking): biscuit, dowel, glue strip, finger joint

Verb

spline (third-person singular simple present splines, present participle splining, simple past and past participle splined)

(mathematics, computing) To smooth (a curve or surface) by means of a spline.

(engineering) To fit with a spline.

(engineering) To fasten to or together with a spline.

Anagrams

• Esplin, L-spine, Pilsen, pinsel, spinel

Source: Wiktionary


Spline, n.

1. A rectangular piece fitting grooves like key seats in a hub and a shaft, so that while the one may slide endwise on the other, both must revolve together; a feather; also, sometimes, a groove to receive such a rectangular piece.

2. A long, flexble piece of wood sometimes used as a ruler.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

28 May 2025

AIR

(noun) a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; “an air of mystery”; “the house had a neglected air”; “an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate’s headquarters”; “the place had an aura of romance”


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Coffee Trivia

Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free. Studies from the National Institute of Health (US) have shown that virtually all decaf coffee types contain caffeine. A 236-ml (8-oz) cup of decaf coffee contains up to 7 mg of caffeine, whereas a regular cup provided 70-140 mg.

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