diaphragm
English
/ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/
noun
Definitions
- (anatomy) In mammals, a sheet of muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen, contracted and relaxed in respiration to draw air into and expel air from the lungs; also called thoracic diaphragm.
- (anatomy) Any of various membranes or sheets of muscle or ligament which separate one cavity from another.
- A contraceptive device consisting of a flexible cup, used to cover the cervix during intercourse.
- (mechanics) A flexible membrane separating two chambers and fixed around its periphery that distends into one or other chamber as the difference in the pressure in the chambers varies.
- (acoustics) In a speaker, the thin, semi-rigid membrane which vibrates to produce sound.
- (optics) A thin opaque structure with a central aperture, used to limit the passage of light into a camera or similar device.
- (chemistry) A permeable or semipermeable membrane.
- (construction) A floor slab, metal wall panel, roof panel or the like, having a sufficiently large in-plane shear stiffness and sufficient strength to transmit horizontal forces to resisting systems.
Etymology
Derived from Ancient Greek διάφραγμα (partition, later, barrier, diaphragm, partition-wall).
Origin
Ancient Greek
διάφραγμα
Gloss
partition, later, barrier, diaphragm, partition-wall
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- diaphragmal English
- diaphragmic English
- diaphragmless English
- hemidiaphragm English
- microdiaphragm English
- subdiaphragmal English
- transdiaphragmal English
- diaphragma Latin
- диафрагма Russian
- διάφραγμα Ancient Greek