i\\cI}I'a|w-Ilill
`I|lI]’I‘II|Nl\I{\' 0|’
`S|]IIiN’I‘II<‘I|} AMI!
` ’I‘IiI]IlN|I}l\|l
`’I‘IiIh\\S
`
`
`
`Fmlrtll liclitiun
`
`.
`.'x¢a'
`;§‘“‘f
`x’*§{=;,
`_
`.3"
`’
`
`>
`
`.
`
`§\'|Iil I’. |':n°I:er
`EDITOR IN CHIEF
`
`McGRAW-Hl|.l. BOOK COMPANY
`
`New York
`St. Louis‘
`San Francisco
`
`Bogota
`Auckland
`Colorado Springs
`Caracas
`Lisbon
`i
`Hamburg
`Madrid
`London
`Milan
`Mexico
`New Delhi
`Montreal
`Panama
`Oklahoma City
`San Juan
`Paris
`Singapore
`Séo Paulo
`Tokyo
`, Sydney
`Toronto
`
`
`
`;
`
`._
`
`.
`
`u*
`K
`.
`w ‘,‘
`Y
`
`

`
`’ rff
`
`‘*
`
`On the cover: Pattern produced from white light by a computer-generated
`diffraction plate containing 529 square apertures arranged in a 23 X 23 array.
`(R. B. Hoover, Marshall Space Flight Center)
`
`1 On the title pages: Aerial photograph of the Sinai Peninsula made by Gemini
`spacecraft. (NASA)
`_
`p
`‘
`
`Included in this Dictionary are definitions which have beenipublished previously in the following
`works: P.'B. Jordain, Condensed Computer Encyclopedia, ‘Copyright © 1969 by McGraw-Hill, Inc.
`All rights reserved. I. Markus, Electronics and Nucleonics Dictionary, 4th ed., Copyright © 1960,
`1966, 1978 by McCraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved. J. Quick, Artists’ and Illustrators’ Encyclopedia,
`Copyright © 1969 by McCraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved. Blakiston’s Gould Medical Dictionary,
`3d ed., Copyright © 1956, 1972 by McGraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved.’ T. Baumeister and
`L. 5. Marks, eds., Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers, 7th ed., Copyright © 1958, 1967
`by McGraw-Hill, Inc.iAll rights reserved.
`.
`I
`.
`
`In addition, material has been drawn from the followingreferences: R. E. Huschke, Glossary of
`Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 1959; U.S. Air Force Glossary of Standardized Terms,
`AF Manual 1141, vol. 1, 1972; Commu.nication.s—Electronics Terminology, AF Manual 11-1, vol. 3,
`1970; W. H. Allen, ed., Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use, 1st ed., National Aero-
`nautics and Space Administration, 1965; J. M. Cilliland, Solar—Terrestrial Physicjs: A Glossary of
`Terms and Abbreviations, Royal Aircraft Establishment»Technical Report 67158, 1967; Glossary of
`Air Traflic Control Terms, Federal Aviation Agency; A Glossary of Range Terminology, White Sands
`Missile Range, New Mexico, National Bureau of Standards, AD 467-4924; A DOD Glossary ofMapping,
`Charting and Geodetic Terms, 1st ed., Department of Defense, 1967; P. W. Thrush, comp. and ed.,
`A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Tenns, Bureau of Mines, 1968; Nuclear Terms: A
`Glossary, 2d ed., Atomic Energy Commission; F. Casey, ed., Compilation of Terms in Information
`Sciences Technology, Federal Council for Science and Technology, 1970; Glossary of Stinfo Termi-
`nology, Office of Aerospace Research, U.S. Air Force, 1963; Naval Dictionary of Electronic, Tech-
`nical, and Imperative Terms, Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1962; ADP Glossary, Department of the
`Navy, NAVSO P-3097.
`
`McGRAW-HILL DICTIONARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL TERMS,
`<
`Fourth Edition
`_
`V
`Copyright © 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw—Hill, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in
`the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976,
`no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored
`in a data base or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
`-
`.
`
`_.
`
`34567890
`
`DOW/DOW
`
`9543210
`
`ISBN IJ-El?-D‘-l5E7E|-"l
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`
`McCraw-Hill dictionary of scientific and technical terms.
`
`1. Science-—Dictionaries.
`I. Parker, Sybil P.
`Q123.M34
`1989
`ISBN 0-07-045270-9
`
`2. Technology~——Dictiona_ries.
`
`503721
`.
`
`.
`
`' 88-13490
`
`For more information about other McGraw-Hill materials, call 1-800-2-MCGFIAW in the 4
`United States. in other countries, call your nearest McGraw-Hill office.
`‘
`
`\
`
`

`
`flame excitation
`
`flaperon
`
`727
`
` \
`
`FLAME PHOTOMETER
`light chopper
`vaporizemnurner
`monochromator-
`detector
`
`light source \
`
`
`
`recorder
`
`Schematic diagram of atomic
`ab sorption _spectrophot0meter
`for determining metal
`concentrations.
`
`try,technique in which the solution containing the sample to be
`analyzed is optically excited in an oxyhydrogen or oxyacetylene
`flame,
`{ 'flam i,mish-on spek‘tras-ks-pé }
`A
`flame excitation
`[SPECT] Use of a high-temperature flame
`(such as oxyacetylene) to excite spectra emission lines from
`alkali and alkaline-earth elements and metals.
`{ jflam ,ek~
`si'té'1‘Sh9U }
`-
`flame gouging
`[MET] A form of oxygen cutting by means
`of a cutting torch with a slightly curved tip, enabling the flame
`to strike the metal surface at a low angle and making shallow
`cuts possible. Also known as oxygen gouging.
`{ ‘flam ,ga1'1j-
`1
`[MET] A method for local surface hard-
`flgme hardening
`ening of steel by passing an oxyacetylene or similar flame over
`the work at a predetermined rate.
`{ 'flam ,hard-on-in }
`flameholder
`[AERO ENG] A device that sustains combustion
`in a flowing mixture within the combustion chamber of some
`types of jet engines.
`{ 'flam,h6l~der }
`flame ionization detector
`[ANALY CHEM] A device in which
`the measured change in conductivity of a standard flame (usu-
`ally hydrogen) due to the insertion of another gas or vapor is
`used to detect the gas or vapor.
`{ jflam ,i-9-ns'za-shsn di,tek-
`tar }
`[OPTICS] A molecular gas laser in which gases
`flame laser
`such as carbon disulfide and oxygen are mixed at low pressures
`and ignited;
`the flame is then self-sustaining and produces
`carbon monoxide laser emission.
`{ 'flam .15-zor }
`flameout
`[AERO ENG] The extinguishing of the flame in a’
`reaction engine, especially in a jet engine.
`{ ‘flam,a1'it }
`flame photometer
`[SPECT] One of several types of instru-
`ments used in flame photometry, such as the emission flame
`photometer and the atomic absorption spectrophotometer,
`in
`each of which a solution of the chemical being analyzed is
`vaporized;
`the spectral lines resulting from the light source
`going through the vapors enters a monochromator that selects
`the band or bands of interest.
`{ 'flam ,fo't‘am-ad-or}
`llame photometry
`[SPECT] A branch of spectrochemical
`analysis in which samples in solution are excited to produce
`line emission spectra by introduction into a flame.
`{ ‘flam
`fa't‘cim'e-tre }
`flame plate
`[ENG] One of the plates on aboiler firebox which
`are stibjected to the maximum furnace temperature.
`{ ‘flam
`.plat
`.
`flame plating
`[MET] Coating a.thin layer of refractory ma-
`terial on a surface by exploding a mixture of plating powder,
`oxygen, and acetylene. Also known as flame coating.
`.{ 'flam
`,plad-in }
`(J
`flame propagation [CHEM] The spread of a flame in a com-
`bustible environment outward from the point at which the com-
`bustion started.
`.{ fiflam ,prap-o'ga-shan }
`’
`flame’-retarded resin
`[MATER]
`A resin which is com-
`pounded with certain chemicals to reduce or eliminate. its
`tendency to burn.
`{ 'flam ri,t‘ard-ad 'rez-on }
`flame repellent
`[TEXT] Referring to a fabric that has been
`rendered resistant to flash or sustained burning by chemical
`treatment.
`{ 'fl5m ri,pel-ont }
`flame spectrometry [SPECT] A procedure used to measure
`the spectra or to determine wavelengths emitted by flame-
`excited substances.
`{ Iflam spek'tram~e-tre }
`.
`flame spectropho’tometry-
`[SPECT] A method used to de-
`lfirmine the intensity of radiations of various wavelengths in a
`fllectrum emitted by a chemical inserted into a flame..
`{ [flam
`tspek-tra'f9't‘cim-9-tré }
`“time spectrum [SPECT] An emission spectrum obtained by
`:vapo}rating substances in anonluminous flame.
`{ ‘flam ,spek-
`rem
`flame speed
`[CHEM] The rate at which combustion moves
`through an explosive mixture.
`{ ‘flam ,sped }
`"time spraying
`[ENG]
`1. A method of applying a plastic
`vcoating onto a surface in which finely powdered fragments of
`‘he plastic, together with suitable fluxes, areprojected through
`3 Cone of flame.
`2. Deposition of a conductor on a board in
`molten form, generally through a metal mask or stencil, by
`means of a spray gun that feeds wire into a gas flame and drives
`‘he molten particles against the work.
`{ 'flam -,spra-in }
`‘lame straightening
`[MET] Correcting distorted structural
`metal to a straight form by local application of a gas—flame
`‘heat.
`{ ‘flam ,strat-an-in }
`lamethrower .
`[ENG] A device used to project ignited fuel
`
`from a nozzle so as to cause casualties to personnel or to destroy
`material such as weeds or insects.
`'flam,thr6-or }
`flame trap
`[ENG] A device that prevents a gas flame from
`entering the supply pipe.
`{ 'flam ,trap }
`flame treating
`[ENG] . A method of rendering inert therrno-
`plastic objects receptive to inks, lacquers, paints, or adhesives,
`in which the object is bathed in an open flame to promote
`oxidation of the surface.
`{ ‘flam ,tréd-in }
`flamingo [VERT zoo] Any of various long-legged and long-
`necked aquatic birds of the family Phoenicopteridae character-
`ized by a broad bill resembling that of a duck but abruptly bent
`downward and rosy-white plumage with scarlet coverts.
`{ flo‘min~g6 }
`[CHEM] A measure of the extent to which a
`flammability
`material will support combustion. Also known as inflamma-
`bility.
`{ ,flam-e'bil-ed-E}
`.
`flammability limits
`[CHEM] The stoichiometric composition
`limits (maximum and minimum) of an ignited oxidizer-fuel
`mixture what will burn indefinitely at given conditions of tem-
`perature and pressure without further ignition.
`{ ,flam-e'bil'
`edé ,lim-ots }
`flammable
`[MATER] Of a material, capable of supporting
`combustion.
`{ 'flam'e-bal}
`flammable liquid
`[MATER] A liquid which gives off com-
`bustible vapors.
`{ ‘,flam-9-bel ‘ilk-wed }
`Flamsteed’s number
`[AsTRoN] A number sometimes used
`with the possessive form of the Latin name of the constellation
`to identify a star, for example, 72 Ophiuchi.
`{ ‘flam,stédz
`,nem-bar }
`‘
`flan [METEOROL]
`In Scotland, a sudden gust or squall of wind
`from land.
`{ flan }
`,
`Flanders storm [METEOROL]
`l_n England, a heavy fall of
`snow coming with the south wind.
`{ ‘flan-derz ,st6rm }
`, Flandrian transgression [OCEANOGR] The rapid rise of the
`North Sea between 8000 and 3000 B.C. from about -180 feet
`(55 meters) below to about 20 feet (6 meters) below its present
`level.
`{ 'flan'dré-on tranz‘gresh*en}
`flange
`[SCI TECH] A projecting rim of an organism or me-
`chanical part.
`{ fianj }
`flanged pipe
`[DES ENG] A pipe with flanges at the ends; can
`. be bolted end to end to another pipe.
`{ ',flanjd ‘pip }
`flangeway [ClV ENG] Open way through a rail or track struc-
`ture that provides a passageway for the flange of a wheel.
`{ 'flanj,w2'1 }
`[DES ENG]
`flank [Ctv ENG] The outer edge of a carriageway.
`1. The end surface of a cutting tool, adjacent to the cutting
`edge.
`2. The side of a screw thread.
`[GEOL]
`See limb.
`[VERT zoo] The part of a quadruped mammal between the
`ribs and the pelvic girdle.
`{ flank }
`flank angle
`[DES ENG] The angle made by the flank of a
`screw thread with a line perpendicular to the axis of the screw.
`{ ‘flank .au'g91 }
`1. A hole bored in advance of a working
`flank hole
`[MIN ENG]
`place when approaching old workings. 2. A borehole driven
`from the side of an underground excavation, not parallel with
`the center line of the excavation, to detect water, gas, or other
`' danger.
`{ ‘flank ,h<')l}
`flank observation
`[ORD] Observation of fire from a place
`on, or near,
`the flank of the target; the angle at the target
`between the gun and the observer is between 75 and 105°.
`{ [flank ab-zer‘va-shen }
`.
`flank wear
`[ENG] Loss of relief on the flank of a tool behind
`the cutting edge.
`{ ‘flank ,wer }
`flannel
`[TEXT] A loosely woven, generally wool fabric with
`the weave concealed by a napped surface.
`{ ‘flan-ol }
`flannelette
`[TEXT]
`Plain cotton weave finished with a nap
`on one side. Also known as kimono flannel.
`{ [flan-el‘,et}
`flap
`[AERO ENG]
`1. Any control surface, such as a speed
`brake, dive brake, or dive-recovery brake, used primarily to
`increase the lift or drag on an airplane, or to aid in recovery
`from a dive.
`2. Any rudder attached to a rocket and acting
`either in the air or within the jet stream.
`{ flap }
`flap attenuator
`[ELECTROMAG] A waveguide attenuator in
`which a contoured sheet of dissipative material is moved into
`the guide through a nonradiating slot to provide a desired
`amount of power absorption. Also known as vane attenuator.
`{ ',flap e‘ten-ya,wad-or }
`flaperon
`[AERO ENG] A control surface used both as a flap
`and as an aileron.
`{ ‘flap-e,riin }