cast
To stereotype or electrotype.
Entries starting with C
768 entries.
cast off
To estimate the amount of space required by the type used for the given copy.
cast on
To start the first row of knitting by putting stitches on a needle.
cast-on
The technique of starting knitting by casting on.
caster
nounAutomotive
The angle of the axis around which a car's front wheels rotate when the steering wheel is turned, with a vertical axis being defined as zero caster.
cat
A strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship.
Cat 5
A twisted pair cable for carrying signals, particularly for Ethernet-based computer networks.
cat's whisker
The wire that touches the crystal in a crystal radio.
cat's-paw
nounCarpentry
A small crowbar with a handle at a right angle to a blade with a V-shaped notch, principally used by carpenters to remove nails.
cataclastic
adjectiveMining and extraction
describing a type of metamorphic rock that has undergone shearing and granulation by high mechanical stress
catadioptric
adjectiveOptics and imaging
Of or pertaining to optical systems that employ both reflective (catoptric) and refractive (dioptric) elements.
catadioptrics
The construction and use of catadioptric lenses and systems
catalytic converter
nounAutomotive
A chamber containing a finely divided platinum catalyst in which carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from vehicle exhaust are oxidized to carbon dioxide.
catapult effect
The phenomenon where a loose current-carrying wire is catapulted horizontally away in the presence of a magnetic field.
cataract
A type of governor used in single-acting steam engines, where a flow of water through an opening regulates the stroke.
catch
A crop which has germinated and begun to grow.
catch points
nounRail equipment
A set of points provided to derail rail vehicles out of control on a steep gradient.
catchline
A temporary note at the top of a page or galley proof to identify it.
catchword
A word at the end of a book page that repeats the first word from the following page. (Such words served as aids to the bookbinder (to check rapidly for correct placement of leaves) and were also viewed by some readers as aids to smooth reading.)
cathead
A (small) capstan (“vertical cylindrical machine that revolves on a spindle, used to apply force to cables, ropes, etc.”) or windlass (“type of winch”) forming part of hoisting machinery.
cathode
An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows outwards (and thus, electrons flow inwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage with respect to anode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).
cathode ray
A ray consisting of a stream of electrons in a vacuum tube that are emitted by the cathode and accelerated towards the anode by an electric field.
cathode ray tube
A vacuum tube that displays still or moving images (such as for a television), by controlling the direction of a cathode ray emitted towards the front of the tube. The front is coated by a layer of fluorescent material, so that it emits light when struck by the beam.
catline
A fireline constructed with the front blade of a bulldozer or similar tracked vehicle.
CATO
Acronym of catapult assisted takeoff.
cattle dock
A pen on a platform in a railway goods yard for cattle travelling by rail.
cattle wagon
nounRail equipment
a covered or uncovered goods wagon (mostly formerly) used for the transportation of live cattle.
caul
nounWoodworking
A strip or block of wood used to distribute or direct clamping force.
cauldron bottom
A large, round mass in a coal seam that forms part of the roof of a coal mine passage (usually being a fossilized root or stump); considered a hazard due to being prone to falling without warning.
caulk
verbConstruction
To apply caulking to joints, cracks, or a juncture of different materials.
caustic
The envelope of reflected or refracted rays of light for a given surface or object.
caustic curve
A curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane.
caustic surface
A surface to which rays reflected or refracted by another surface are tangents.
cave
In room-and-pillar mining, to extract a deposit of rock by breaking down a pillar which had been holding it in place.
caver
One who works the tailings of a mine to extract small pieces of marketable ore.
cavity
nounManufacturing
A hole or hollow depression in a solid object.
cavity magnetron
A high-power vacuum tube used in early radar systems and subsequently in microwave ovens and in linear particle accelerators.
cavity wall
nounConstruction
A double wall of masonry connected by an air space.
CAVU
phraseAviation maintenance
Acronym of ceiling and visibility unrestricted, indicating a ceiling of at least 10,000 feet and visibility of at least 10 miles: ideal flying conditions.
CAW
nameAutomotive
Initialism of Canadian Auto Workers, a former trade union, one of the predecessors of Unifor.
Caxton
A kind of printing-type in imitation of William Caxton's.
cazo process
nounMetallurgy
An old method for amalgamating metal ores by first boiling in a solution of salt.
CB
Initialism of center back, a line marking the center on the back side of a piece of clothing.
CBDC
Abbreviation of central bank digital currency.
CBI
nounRail equipment
Initialism of computer-based interlocking.
CC
nounManufacturing
Initialism of contrasting colour.
CCB
nounAutomotive
Initialism of carbon ceramic brake.
CCD
Initialism of charge-coupled device (digital camera cell technology).
CCDev
Initialism of Commercial Crew Development.
CCI
Initialism of co-channel interference.
CCM
Initialism of Cabin Crew Member (“cabin crew, flight attendant”).
CCN
Initialism of controlled-controlled not gate.
CCS
nameAutomotive
Initialism of Combined Charging System.
CCS1
nounAutomotive
A plug, charger, or, outlet, using the electric vehicle charging standard
CCS2
nounAutomotive
A plug, charger, or outlet, using the electric vehicle charging standard
CD drive
An optical drive used for reading data from and possibly writing data on a compact disc.
CD3
an 80-mm (3-inch) CD (compact disc)
CD5
a 120-mm (5-inch) CD (compact disc)
CDAA
Initialism of circularly disposed antenna array.
CDC
Initialism of clock domain crossing.