diaphragm
English
editEtymology
editFrom Ancient Greek διάφραγμα (diáphragma, “partition”), from διά (diá, “across”) and φράγμα (phrágma, “barrier”), from the verb φράσσω (phrássō).
Pronunciation
edit- IPA(key): /ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
editdiaphragm (plural diaphragms)
- (anatomy) In mammals, a sheet of muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen, contracted and relaxed in respiration to draw air into and expel air from the lungs; also called thoracic diaphragm.
- (anatomy) Any of various membranes or sheets of muscle or ligament which separate one cavity from another.
- A contraceptive device consisting of a flexible cup, used to cover the cervix during intercourse.
- (mechanics) A flexible membrane separating two chambers and fixed around its periphery that distends into one or other chamber as the difference in the pressure in the chambers varies.
- (acoustics) In a speaker, the thin, semi-rigid membrane which vibrates to produce sound.
- (optics, photography) A thin opaque structure with a central aperture, used to limit the passage of light into a camera or similar device.
- (chemistry) A permeable or semipermeable membrane.
- 1921, Wilder Dwight Bancroft, Applied Colloid Chemistry: General Theory[1], page 207:
- The mass of liquid transported through a porous diaphragm in a given time is directly proportional to the current.
- (construction) A floor slab, metal wall panel, roof panel or the like, having a sufficiently large in-plane shear stiffness and sufficient strength to transmit horizontal forces to resisting systems.
Derived terms
editTranslations
editanatomy: sheet of muscle separating thorax from abdomen
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anatomy: separating membrane or sheet of muscle
contraceptive device
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mechanics: flexible membrane
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acoustics: vibrating membrane in a speaker
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optics: structure with a central aperture used to limit the passage of light
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chemistry: permeable or semipermeable membrane
construction: stiff floor slab etc.
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Verb
editdiaphragm (third-person singular simple present diaphragms, present participle diaphragming, simple past and past participle diaphragmed)
- (optics, photography) To reduce lens aperture using an optical diaphragm.
- 1870, D. Appleton & Co., Appletons' Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1869[2], page 43:
- He employs an equatorial with an object-glass having a focal length of five metres, and which was diaphragmed down to eight centimetres.
- To act as a diaphragm, for example by vibrating.
Translations
editoptics: to reduce lens aperture
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Gallery
edit-
The thoracic diaphragm.
-
A mechanical diaphragm.
-
An acoustic diaphragm.
Categories:
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Anatomy
- en:Mechanics
- en:Acoustics
- en:Optics
- en:Photography
- en:Chemistry
- English terms with quotations
- en:Construction
- English verbs
- en:Birth control
- en:Muscles