phase
In a polyphase electrical power system, one of the power-carrying conductors, or the alternating current carried by it.
Entries starting with P
582 entries.
phase angle
Angular component of the vector representation of a sinusoid.
phase-locked loop
an electronic circuit used to lock an oscillator in phase with an arbitrary input signal
PHEV
nounAutomotive
Initialism of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
PHEVLER
nounAutomotive
Abbreviation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with long electric range, a PHEV (“plug-in hybrid electric vehicle”) with sufficient battery capacity for about twice the average daily driving distance.
phone tree
An interactive hierarchical menu of choices on an automated telephone system, navigated by the caller typically by entering or speaking digits, etc.
phonic wheel
A synchronous motor driven by a tuning fork that used an electromagnet to rotate the cogwheel of the motor by one tooth for each vibration.
phosphate
Any fertiliser containing phosphate compounds.
phosphine
nounManufacturing
Chrysaniline, often in the form of a salt.
photo machine
A phototypesetter machine.
photo-offset
A method of offset printing that uses photolithographic plates.
photoblocker
A substance that stops light.
photochopper
An optoelectronic device that converts a DC input signal into a higher frequency signal.
photodiode
A semiconductor two-terminal component whose electrical characteristics are light-sensitive.
photolettering
The formation of lines of type on photographic paper or film.
photolithography
A lithographic procedure in which printing plates are made using a photographic process.
photometeor
Any visible phenomenon in the atmosphere caused by reflection, refraction, diffraction or interference.
photomultiplier tube
A type of vacuum tube that detects electromagnetic radiation in the range from ultraviolet to infrared, including the visible spectrum, and them amplifies the detection induced current into an output signal
photoresistor
An electronic component whose resistance is inversely proportional to the intensity of incident light.
photothyristor
A light-activated silicon controlled rectifier.
phototransistor
Any semiconductor device whose electrical characteristics are light-sensitive.
photovisual
adjectiveOptics and imaging
Of certain achromatic lenses, having the same focus for the actinic and for the brightest of the visual rays.
physical twin
nounManufacturing
The physical counterpart to a digital twin; usually, the latter was created to model it.
PI
nounAutomotive
Initialism of port injection (“fuel injection”).
PIC
Initialism of peripheral interface controller.
pica
A size of type between small pica and English, now standardized as 12-point.
pica stick
A type of ruler used to measure by hand the spacing in prints, designs, mock-ups, and proofs.
Piccadilly
nameRail equipment
Manchester Piccadilly station, the main railway station in Manchester.
pick
A particle of ink or paper embedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and causing a spot on a printed sheet.
pick stitch
A simple running stitch that catches only a few threads of the fabric, showing very little of the thread on the right (outer) side of the garment.
pick-at-will
adjectiveManufacturing
Of or relating to a kind of loom with several shuttle boxes, allowing various colours of yarn to be combined as desired.
picker
nounManufacturing
The piece in a loom that strikes the end of the shuttle and impels it through the warp.
pickle
nounMetalworking
A bath of dilute sulphuric or nitric acid, etc., to remove burnt sand, scale, rust, etc., from the surface of castings, or other articles of metal, or to brighten them or improve their colour.
picoampere
An SI unit of current equal to 10⁻¹² amperes. Symbol: pA
picocell
A wireless communication system covering a small area, such as a single office or railway station, often used to extend cellular network coverage to indoor areas where signals cannot easily penetrate.
picogram
An SI unit of mass equal to 10⁻¹² grams. Symbol: pg
picokatal
An SI unit of catalytic activity equal to 10⁻¹² katals. Symbol: p
picometre
An SI unit of length equal to 10⁻¹² metres. Symbol: pm
piconewton
An SI unit of force equal to 10⁻¹² newtons. Symbol: pN
picosecond
An SI unit of time equal to 10⁻¹² seconds. Symbol: ps
picosiemens
An SI unit of electrical conductance equal to 10⁻¹² siemens.
picqué work
pounced work; decoration by dots or slight depressions
picture framing
nounConstruction
A square or rectangular pattern of ridges in a roof membrane or covering over insulation or deck joints.
picture tube
In a television set, before the development of LED screens, the cathode ray tube which produced moving images on its surface.
pie crust collar
A high collar which has an even ruffle in the shape of a fluted pie crust.
piece goods
textiles sold by pieces or fixed sizes, such as cloth from clothes-making, calicos, sheetings, etc.
piece-dye
To dye (a finished fabric) after it has been woven or knitted, but before it is cut and sewn into finished products like garments.
piecen
verbManufacturing
To join broken threads or ends in spinning.
pier
A long corridor-like building with multiple gates extending from an airport terminal.
pig farm
A farm where domestic pigs are raised and bred, primarily for food and, sometimes, for their skin.
pig iron
nounMetallurgy
A brittle, impure form of iron produced by smelting iron ore which is often shaped into blocks; it is unsuitable for working but suitable for casting, and so is commonly used as an industrial raw material; (countable) a sample of such iron.
pigtail
A short length of twisted electrical wire.
pigtailed
adjectiveElectrical engineering
Connected by means of a short additional wire.
pile
A battery (simple device for converting chemical potential energy into usable electricity).
piling rig
A large crawler track-mounted drill used in foundation projects which require drilling into sandy soil, clay, silty clay, and similar environments. Such rigs are similar in function to oil drilling rigs.
pill
A small piece of any substance, for example a ball of fibers formed on the surface of a textile fabric by rubbing.
pilled
adjectiveManufacturing
Of woven fabric: having formed small matted balls of fiber.
pilot
The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.
pilot vehicle
A vehicle used to warn other road users of the presence of an oversized vehicle/combination
pilotman
nounRail equipment
A railway employee who directs operations over a section of railway line temporarily reduced to single track, e.g. during maintenance work, or within an unsignalled area or over a line unfamiliar to the engine crew.