tractrix

English

A tractrix

Etymology

Formed after tractor, as if from a Latin *tractrīx (from trahō (“to pull”) +‎ -trīx).

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

tractrix (plural tractrices)

1. (geometry) A curve that satisfies the following property: that segment of the tangent line that lies between the point of tangency and a fixed line has length independent of the point of tangency chosen.

Derived terms

• tractricoid

Translations

curve

• Finnish: traktriks, traktrix
• French: tractrice (fr) f
• German: Traktrix f
• Ido: traktrico (io)
• Italian: trattrice f
• Polish: traktrysa f, traktoria f
• Spanish: tractriz f

Further reading

• tractrix on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

References

• “tractrix, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.