Spline

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪn

Origin

Mid-1700s East Anglian dialect. Origin uncertain but perhaps from Old Danish splind or North Frisian splinj.

Full definition of spline

Noun

1. Long thin piece of metal or wood. from the mid 18th c
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. (mathematics, computing) Any of a number of smooth curves used to join points.
5. (woodworking) A strip of wood or other material inserted into grooves in each of two pieces of wood to provide additional surface for gluing.

Coordinate terms

• (woodworking) biscuit, dowel, glue strip, finger joint

Derived terms

• B-spline
• cubic spline
• splined

Verb

1. (mathematics, computing) To smooth (a curve or surface) by means of a spline.
2. (engineering) To fit with a spline.
• 1965, August, 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.
3. (engineering) To fasten to or together with a spline.
• 1935, September, 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, 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, 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

Anagrams

• Pilsen
• spinel