net
A conductor that interconnects two or more component terminals.
Entries starting with N
173 entries.
net-zero
adjectiveEnergy and utilities
Of a building or system, generating as much energy through solar, wind, and other renewable resources as it uses from the electricity network.
netco
The part of a telco that operates the network infrastructure.
nether
A trouble; a fault or dislocation in a seam of coal.
netlist
A technical description of the connectivity of an electronic design.
netphone
A telephone that connects through the Internet.
network interface card
A computer hardware component designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network.
network subsystem
The central subsystem of a particular mobile phone operating company in a GSM network.
neural processing unit
A specialized hardware circuit designed to accelerate machine learning applications.
neutral conductor
A wire or cable that returns electrical current from the consumer to the power supply, usually color-coded with a blue or white casing.
neutral section
nounRail equipment
A dead section of overhead line for supplying power to trains between two live sections, used to separate two power supplies, different phases and supply voltages.
new energy vehicle
nounAutomotive
A plug-in electric vehicle, either a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or an all-electric plug-in battery electric vehicle
New Zealand cotton
A fiber from the bast of Plagianthus betulinus that resembles cotton.
Newton's first law
The observation that objects in motion tend to stay in motion, and objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless an outside force acts upon them.
Newton's second law
Newton's observation that the rate of change of the momentum of a body is directly proportional to, and in the same direction as, the net force acting on it. Often stated as F = ma: F = force, m = mass, a = acceleration.
Newton's third law
Newton's observation that to every action (force applied) there is an equal and opposite reaction (equal force applied in the opposite direction).
Newtonian mechanics
Early classical mechanics as propounded by Isaac Newton, especially that based on his laws of motion and theory of gravity.
NextSTEP
Name for a set of projects that aim to develop technology for human spaceflight in deep space exploration.
NF
Prefix code for NASA research fighter plane designations.
NGST
Initialism of New Generation Space Telescope.
NH
Initialism of National Hose.
nicad
rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery
nick
A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type, to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the stick, and in distribution.
Nickel Plate Road
(or more simply, Nickel Plate) A name given to, and actually used by, the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad.
nicking
The cutting made by the hewer at the side of the face.
nickings
Small coal produced during cutting at the side of the coalface.
Nicol prism
An optical device used to generate polarized light.
nicotiana
Any ornamental plant of the genus Nicotiana
niello
nounMetallurgy
Any of various black metal alloys, made of sulphur with copper, silver or lead, used to create decorative designs on other metals.
night letter
A telegram sent overnight at a reduced rate for delivery on the morning of the following day, typically with a minimum charge for 25 words or less.
nightcap
nounManufacturing
A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas, being common attire in northern Europe before effective home heating became widespread.
nip
nounPaper and pulp
The place of intersection where one roll touches another
nip point
nounManufacturing
A point of convergence between two rolling parts, or a rolling part and a stationary part, where all or part of the human body could become trapped and injured.
nip-out
The situation where the roof and thill approach each other, diminishing the usual thickness of the coal seam or extinguishing it completely.
nipple
nounPlumbing
A short tube threaded at both ends, used as a connector.
nitrile rubber
nounConstruction
a membrane whose predominant resinous ingredient is a synthetic rubber made by polymerization of acrylonitrile with butadiene.
nitrous
The system in some racing vehicles which pumps nitrous oxide into the engine to improve performance.
nitrox
nounMetallurgy
An industrial process for case hardening (imparting greater surface hardness to) metal objects, involving nitrocarburizing (the diffusion of carbon and nitrogen into the metal) followed by oxidation.
Nixie tube
An obsolete electronic device for displaying numerals or other information by means of glow discharge.
NLS
Initialism of National Launch System.
NM
Initialism of nautical mile.
NMC
Initialism of nickel-manganese-cobalt, a type of lithium cell chemistry.
nMOS
A MOSFET with an n-type channel (a semiconductor doped with an element creating a surplus of electron carriers).
nMOSFET
A type of metal, oxide, semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) that utilizes an n-type channel, conducting when a voltage voltage exceeding a threshold is applied to the gate relative to the source. It is commonly used in complementary metal, oxide, semiconductor (CMOS) technology alongside pMOSFETs.
NO
adjectivePlumbing
Initialism of normally open.
no-go
adjectiveManufacturing
That should not go (i.e., enter or engage) if the size of the part being measured is properly achieved.
no-load
adjectiveElectrical engineering
Not supplying power; open-circuited.
no-till
A technique for growing crops or pasture without disturbing the soil through tillage.
NOC
Initialism of network on a chip.
nodal analysis
A method of solving for the voltages of nodes in an electric circuit, in which a system of equations is written for the currents (using Kirchhoff's current law) at each node.
noddy
A small two-wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse.
node
A region of an electric circuit connected only by (ideal) wires (i.e. the voltage between any two points on the same node must be zero).
nog
One of the square logs of wood used in a pile to support the roof of a mine.
nogging
nounCarpentry
A horizontal beam used in the construction of a building, especially to strengthen upright posts.
NOIBN
phraseMarine and shipyard
Initialism of not otherwise indexed by name.
Nomarski prism
A modified type of Wollaston prism very similar to the Glan, Thompson prism.
non-essential prime implicant
On a Karnaugh map: a prime implicant which does not cover any 1 which cannot covered by some other prime implicant.
non-op
A nonoperator; a rail worker not directly involved in the mechanical operation of trains.
non-volatile memory
A type of computer memory that can retain stored information even after power is removed.
nondrying
adjectiveManufacturing
Of a garment, not requiring use of a dryer after washing.