spline
English
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Spline_%28PSF%29.png/220px-Spline_%28PSF%29.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Christmas_Box_of_wood_with_splines_at_the_corners.jpg/220px-Christmas_Box_of_wood_with_splines_at_the_corners.jpg)
Etymology
Mid-1700s East Anglian dialect. Origin uncertain but perhaps from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old Danish splind or (deprecated template usage) [etyl] North Frisian splinj.
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -aɪn
Noun
spline (plural splines)
- Long thin piece of metal or wood. [from the mid 18th c]
- A rectangular piece that fits grooves like key seats in a hub and a shaft, so that while the one may slide endwise on the other, both must revolve together.
- A flexible strip of metal or other material, that may be bent into a curve and used in a similar manner to a ruler to draw smooth curves between points.
- (mathematics, computing) Any of a number of smooth curves used to join points.
- (woodworking) A strip of wood or other material inserted into grooves in each of two pieces of wood to provide additional surface for gluing.
- (mechanics) Ridges or teeth on a drive shaft that mesh with grooves in a mating piece and transfer torque to it, maintaining the angular correspondence between them.
Coordinate terms
- (woodworking): biscuit, dowel, glue strip, finger joint
Derived terms
Translations
rectangular piece
flexible strip
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smooth mathematical curve
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strip of wood used in joining wooden parts
teeth on a drive shaft
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Verb
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- (mathematics, computing) To smooth (a curve or surface) by means of a spline.
- (engineering) To fit with a spline.
- 1965 August, Popular Science, volume 187, number 2, page 133:
- Machining a straight spline with a lathe. Sometimes the task of splining a shaft comes up during a repair. Instead of sending out the job, use this setup to mill the splines on a lathe.
- (engineering) To fasten to or together with a spline.
- 1935 September, Popular Mechanics, volume 64, number 3, page 408:
- Engineers did not think two crankshafts could be synchronized. Wood, by splining the shafts in each gear box, proved it could be done.
- 2004, Jack Erjavec, TechOne automatic transmissions, page 311:
- These packs can be holding or driving devices, depending on what they are splined to.
- 2011, Mark Savitske, How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle, page 85:
- Splined bars are a big recent trend. Originally used in racing, the idea is to have a straight torsion bar with the ends splined like an axle and separate arms that fit on each end to mount the end links