defocus
The distance by which the focal point is in front of (positive defocus) or beyond (negative defocus) the image or target surface.
Entries starting with D
483 entries.
deformation
The act of deforming, or state of being deformed.
degree
nounSurveying
The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.
delay line
An electrical or optical component designed to delay the transmission of a signal by a specific amount of time.
deleatur
dele (“mark signifying deletion”)
delta
nounSurveying
The angle subtended at the center of a circular arc.
delta connection
A type of three-phase connection.
delta hinge
On rotorcraft, a hinge with its axis parallel to the rotor plane of rotation, which permits the rotor blades to flap.
delta wing
An aircraft wing having a swept-back shape in the form of an isosceles triangle; used mostly on supersonic aircraft
delta-v
The maximum possible change in the scalar speed of a rocket or other vehicle if operated in a vacuum away from external forces.
deluge
A system for flooding or drenching a space, container, or area with water in an emergency to prevent or extinguish a fire.
deluge gun
An aimable high-capacity water jet used in firefighting and fire protection systems.
demand-driven
adjectiveManufacturing
Referring to a manufacturer tailoring one's production according to actual orders and changing customer demand rather than forecasting sales.
demarc extension
The transmission path originating from the interface of the access provider's side of a telecommunications circuit Demarcation Point within a premise and ending at the termination point prior to the interface of the edge Customer Premises Equipment. This may include in-segment equipment, media converters and patch cords as required to complete the circuit's transmission path to the edge CPE.
demate
To move (a space shuttle orbiter) off the back of an aircraft that can carry it.
demisability
The state of being demisable.
demisable
adjectiveAviation maintenance
(of a spacecraft or component) Capable of burning up completely during atmospheric re-entry such that no hazardous debris survives to impact the surface.
demix
To reverse the downmixing process for (a track), recovering channels or stems.
demon dialing
The use of a computer to dial a number repeatedly (usually to a crowded modem pool) in an attempt to gain access immediately after another user has hung up.
demonstration garden
An outdoor educational space designed to showcase best gardening practices, successful plant varieties, and sustainable techniques to the public; teaching home gardeners how to solve common problems like drought, pests, or poor soil using methods applicable to their own yards, like native plants, pollinator support, or water conservation.
demultiplex
To separate signals that were previously multiplexed (combined using a multiplexer)
demultiplexer
A device or piece of software used to separate signals that were previously combined using a multiplexer.
demurrage
the detention of a ship or other freight vehicle, during delayed loading or unloading
dendrite
nounMetallurgy
Tree-like structure of crystals growing as material crystallizes
dent
nounManufacturing
A slot or a wire in a reed.
Denver drill
A training exercise involving the rescue of a person from a confined space through a window.
deorbit burn
A firing of the engines of a spacecraft to enable it to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.
depart
To lose control of an aircraft; to "depart" (sense 5) from controlled flight (with the aircraft as the direct object)
departer
Someone who refines metals by separation.
departure
nounSurveying
The difference in easting between the two ends of a line or curve.
depillar
to remove a pillar, or pillars, from a mine
depletion
gradual expense or use of natural resources over time.
depopulate
To remove the components from a circuit board.
depressant
An agent that inhibits the flotation of a mineral or minerals.
depth
the perpendicular distance from the chord to the farthest point of an arched surface
deputy
A person employed to install and remove props, brattices, etc. and to clear gas, for the safety of the miners.
dequantize
To convert a digital signal to an analog one.
derailment
nounRail equipment
The action of a locomotive or train leaving the rails along which it runs.
desensitize
To make non-image portions of (a lithographic stone or plate) repellent to ink.
design load
nounConstruction
The total load on a structural system for the most severe combination of loads and forces which it is designed to sustain.
desiliconisation
nounMetallurgy
Alternative form of desiliconization.
desize
verbManufacturing
To remove sizing material from (a fabric).
deskside server
A type of computer server intended to be placed alongside a desk, contrasted with the shelf model.
destash
To remove (a yarn, fabric, equipment, etc.) from one's collection.
destination board
nounRail equipment
A board attached to the side of a railway carriage which indicates where the train is going to. More modern variants can be a dot-matrix display panel.
destroke
verbAutomotive
To reduce or shorten the stroke of (an engine).
DET
Abbreviation of digital event timer.
detackifier
nounManufacturing
A substance added to something in order to reduce its tackiness.
detection
The act or process of finding or detecting an electrical signal in a carrier wave.
detector bar
nounRail equipment
A bar, connected with a switch, longer than the distance between any two consecutive wheels of a train, laid inside a rail and operated by the wheels so that the switch cannot be thrown until the entire train has passed the switch.
detention time
nounAutomotive
The total amount of time that a truck and its driver must wait at a shipping or receiving facility to load or unload their truck beyond the scheduled appointment time.
detonation
Engine knocking, a type of improper combustion in gasoline piston engines.
detonator
nounRail equipment
A small explosive device attached to the railhead to provide an audible warning when a train passes over it.
detrain
verbRail equipment
To exit from a train; to disembark.
developer
A reagent used to produce an ingrain color by its action upon some substance on the fiber.
development mule
nounAutomotive
A testbed vehicle equipped with prototype components requiring evaluation.
deviation
The signed difference between a value and its reference value.
device
An image or logo denoting official or proprietary authority or provenience.
devil bolt
A sham, defective or faulty bolt, used to deceive an inspector regarding the quality of the material.
devil seam
nounManufacturing
A particularly difficult seam to caulk on a ship's hull, specifically the curved seam where the deck planking meets the side of the ship, near the scupper gutters.