brachistochrone

[ bruh-kis-tuh-krohn ]
/ brəˈkɪs təˌkroʊn /

noun Mechanics.

the curve between two points that in the shortest time by a body moving under an external force without friction; the curve of quickest descent.

Origin of brachistochrone

1765–75; < Greek bráchisto(s) shortest (superlative of brachýs brachy-) + chrónos time

OTHER WORDS FROM brachistochrone

bra·chis·to·chron·ic [bruh-kis-tuh-kron-ik] /brəˌkɪs təˈkrɒn ɪk/, bra·chis·toch·ro·nous [brey-kuh-stok-ruh-nuh s, brak-uh-] /ˌbreɪ kəˈstɒk rə nəs, ˌbræk ə-/, adjective

Words nearby brachistochrone

brachiocrural, brachiocubital, brachiopod, brachiosaur, brachiosaurus, brachistochrone, brachium, bracht maneuver, brachy-, brachybasia, brachybasocamptodactyly

Example sentences from the Web for brachistochrone

  • A famous instance of this is found in what is known as the Brachistochrone problem, which was solved by John Bernouilli.

    Great Astronomers |R. S. Ball

British Dictionary definitions for brachistochrone

brachistochrone
/ (brəˈkɪstəˌkrəʊn) /

noun

maths the curve between two points through which a body moves under the force of gravity in a shorter time than for any other curve; the path of quickest descent

Word Origin for brachistochrone

C18: from Greek brakhistos, superlative of brakhus short + chronos time