QAI
Initialism of Quality Assurance International, a U.S.-based international organic certification company.
Entries starting with Q
43 entries.
Qantas
The national airline of Australia.
QC
Initialism of quick change: a type of aircraft that can be rapidly switched between passenger and cargo configurations.
QDR
Initialism of quad data rate.
QFET
Acronym of quantum field effect transistor.
QoS
Initialism of quality of service.
QPQ
nounMetalworking
Initialism of quench polish quench (“a treatment process for hardening steel, i.e. enhancing its corrosion resistance”).
QR
nounManufacturing
Initialism of quick response.
quad
A group of four insulated wires twisted together to form two circuits of two wires each.
quadragesimo-octavo
A book size, (2.5"-3.1" x 2.5"-3.3"), corresponding to the paper size.
quadrant
A measuring device with a graduated arc of 90° used in locating an altitude.
quadripole
An electrical circuit that has two pairs of external terminals.
quadruple
verbRail equipment
To provide four parallel running lines on a given stretch of railway.
quality of service
The overall performance of a telephony or computer network, based on error rates, throughput, transmission delay, etc.
quantity
Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as number and a reference.
quantize
To approximate a continuously varying signal by one whose amplitude can only have a set of discrete values
quarry
A site for mining stone, such as limestone, or slate.
quarry car
A car that operates on rails laid in a quarry, usually for carrying rock or waste.
quarter
The aftmost part of a vessel's side, roughly from the last mast to the stern.
quarter glass
The small triangular-shaped side window on some vehicles, originally used as a vent.
quarter-phase
adjectiveElectrical engineering
Differing in phase by a quarter of a cycle; two-phase.
quartersaw
verbWoodworking
Cut radially (towards the heart of the log), at right angles to the growth rings, for stability or the production of decorative patterns.
quarto
A book size, corresponding to the paper size.
quartz crystal
A small crystal of quartz accurately cut in certain directions so that it can be vibrated at a particular frequency, to produce an electric signal of constant known frequency.
quectogram
An SI unit of mass equal to 10⁻³⁰ grams. Symbol: qg
quectosecond
An SI unit of time equal to 10⁻³⁰ seconds. Symbol: qs
queen
To be the queen bee of a colony.
queen excluder
A selective barrier inside a beehive that allows workers past, but not the larger queens and drones.
queen post
nounConstruction
A supporting post designed to span longer openings than a king post.
queen-cage
A small case used to introduce and protect a new queen bee to a queenless hive in order to determine whether the new queen will be accepted or rejected
quench
verbMetallurgy
To cool rapidly by direct contact with liquid coolant, as a blacksmith quenching hot iron.
quenching
nounMetallurgy
The rapid cooling of a hot metal object, by placing it in a liquid, in order to harden it.
quettagram
An SI unit of mass equal to 10³⁰ grams. Symbol: Qg
quettametre
An SI unit of length equal to 10³⁰ metres. Symbol: Qm
quettasecond
An SI unit of time equal to 10³⁰ seconds. Symbol: Qs. (= sextillions of years, a hypothetical time span that is meaningless except in speculative contexts such as theoretical physics, philosophy, religion, and humorous hyperbole)
quick
adjectiveMining and extraction
productive; not "dead" or barren
quicken
To shorten the radius of (a curve); to make (a curve) sharper, or (an incline) steeper.
quickshifter
nounAutomotive
A device that eliminates the need to use the clutch or throttle when shifting gears on a manual transmission.
quill
A quill drive, having a hollow shaft with another movable shaft inside it.
quilting needle
A specialized sewing needle designed for quilting, consisting of a short length, fine diameter, a sharp or slightly rounded tapered point, and a small round eye to enable even stitches.
quint
A vehicle used by firefighters that combines the capabilities of a fire engine and a fire truck, having the ability to provide vertical access as well as pump water to fight a fire.
quoin
A metal wedge which fits into the space between the type and the edge of a chase, and is tightened to fix the metal type in place.
quoin up
To set quoins in place prior to fastening them (locking up).