popcorn
nounManufacturing
A kind of stitch similar to a bobble.
Entries starting with P
582 entries.
popcorn ceiling
nounConstruction
A ceiling having a type of waterbased spray-on treatment characterized by a rough, lumpy texture.
poppet
One of certain upright timbers on the bilge ways, used to support a vessel in launching.
poppet valve
A valve (as in an internal combustion engine) which consists of a sliding shaft with a disk on the end (the disk being shaped to alternately plug and unplug a matching port). Such a valve is opened by either a cam or a solenoid and is closed by either a spring or a solenoid.
populate
To fill initially empty slots or sockets on a circuit board or similar.
porous portal
A type of extended and perforated tunnel portal on high-speed railways, designed to reduce the build-up of pressure when a train enters a tunnel at high speed.
Porsche
nameAutomotive
The German sports car manufacturer founded in 1931 and based in Stuttgart. Full name: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
port
The left-hand side of a vessel, including aircraft, when one is facing the front. Used to unambiguously refer to directions relative to the vessel structure, rather than to a person or object on board.
port replicator
A device used to quickly connect multiple peripherals to a laptop through a single interface, typically through a USB port.
porte cochère
A gateway through which horse carriages pass, often into a courtyard.
porthole
A circular window set in the hull of a ship.
Portland rose
A historic class of hybrid garden roses known for their compact growth and repeat-flowering habit.
portrait
A print orientation where the vertical sides are longer than the horizontal sides.
portulaca
Any of many tropical trailing herbs, of the genus Portulaca, having showy flowers
POS
Initialism of position and orientation system.
positive crystal
A doubly refracting crystal in which the index of refraction for the extraordinary ray is greater than for the ordinary ray, and the former is refracted nearer to the axis than the latter, such as quartz and ice; as opposed to negative crystal: one in which this characteristic is reversed, such as Iceland spar or tourmaline.
positive drainage
nounConstruction
the drainage condition in which consideration has been made during design for all loading deflections of the deck and additional roof slope has been provided to ensure drainage within 48 hours following rainfall during conditions conducive to drying.
positive edge
The point in time when a signal's value becomes high.
positive logic
The use of the higher voltage level to represent the Boolean value 1 and the lower voltage level to represent the Boolean value 0. For instance: ~5v is equal to logical 1₂, and ~0v is equal to 0₂.
positive side waterproofing
nounConstruction
An application where the waterproofing systems and source of hydrostatic pressure are on the same side of the structural element.
positive-edge-triggered
adjectiveElectrical engineering
Describing a circuit or component that changes its state only when an input signal becomes high.
post
A printing paper size measuring 19.25 inches x 15.5 inches.
post and lintel
nounConstruction
A basic building method where strong horizontal elements (lintels) are supported by vertical elements (posts or columns).
post office box
A test instrument once used by telephone engineers.
post-tension
verbConstruction
To apply tension (to reinforcing tendons) after casting concrete.
postmechanical
adjectiveMechanical engineering
Occurring after a mechanical process has completed.
posttension
verbConstruction
To pour concrete first and then stretch the reinforcing strands within it by means of jacks and anchorages.
postuniform
adjectiveMetallurgy
Pertaining to the state where elongation is a function of the strainrate hardening exponent determined near maximum load
pot
A simple electromechanical device used to control resistance or voltage (often to adjust sound volume) in an electronic device by rotating or sliding when manipulated by a human thumb, screwdriver, etc.
pot life
nounConstruction
The period of time a reacting composition remains suitable for its intended processing after mixing with reaction-initiating agents.
pot out
To remove (a potted plant) from its pot and plant it in a garden.
potato pen
A layered framework of beds for growing potatoes, stacked one above the other.
potato spinner
A device with a spoked wheel that is connected to a tractor (or traditionally drawn by a horse) to lift potatoes out of the ground.
potentiometer
A user-adjustable three-terminal variable resistor that can be used as a voltage divider.
pothole
A shallow hole dug for the purpose of prospecting for opal or gold.
potiche
A vase with a separate cover, the body usually rounded or polygonal in plan with nearly vertical sides, a neck of smaller size, and a rounded shoulder.
POTS
Acronym of plain old telephone service/system: the old analog landline circuit-switched telephone network
pouf
Part of an item of clothing consisting of gathered fabric in a bunch.
pounding block
A block of a hard material used to flatten seams by clapping or pounding the seam with the block against a hard surface.
power
A measure of the effectiveness that a force producing a physical effect has over time. If linear, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the displacement of or in an object) ÷ time. If rotational, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the angle of displacement) ÷ time.
power alley
The line between two subwoofers where both are in phase.
power brick
A power supply for an electronic device which is similar in size, shape, and weight of a brick, which plugs into the device using a cord, and to the main supply by another cord.
power cable
An insulated cable which carries electrical current.
power consumption
The amount of power used multiplied by the amount of time, measured either in kilowatt-hours, horsepower-hours, etc.
power cord
A cable that connects an electrical appliance to a socket.
power dive
A steep dive in an aircraft accelerated by an engine delivering thrust at or near full power.
power electronics
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see power, electronics. Electronics for controlling electric power and energy.
power factor
The ratio of the actual power to the apparent power in an alternating current power system; specifically, the cosine of the phase angle between the voltage and the current.
power failure
An unscheduled or accidental break in the supply of electricity.
power inverter
A device that converts direct current electricity to alternating current electricity.
power lead
a power cable or power cord which connects an appliance or other electrical device to the mains.
power scaling
The act of increasing the output power of a laser without changing the geometry, shape, or principle of operation.
power shovel
A bucket-equipped machine, usually electrically powered, used for digging and loading earth or fragmented rock and for mineral extraction.
power steering
nounAutomotive
A system for reducing the driver's effort to steer, by using a power source to assist in turning the wheels. (Traditionally hydraulic; now sometimes electric.)
power to gas
The storing of generated electrical power as a gaseous substance, usually by electrolyzing water into hydrogen and oxygen gases and carbonizing the hydrogen into methane gas.
power-cycle
To turn a device off and then back on again, usually to restore proper function by forcing a malfunctioning or unresponsive device to reset or reinitialize, or as a step in troubleshooting the device.
power-egg
A complete unitized modular engine installation, consisting of engine and all ancillary equipment, which can be swapped between suitably designed equipment.
power-hungry
adjectiveIndustrial electronics
Of a device, using or requiring a large amount of electrical power.
powerful
adjectiveMining and extraction
Large; capacious; said of veins of ore.
powershift
nounAutomotive
A type of dual-clutch gear transmission system.