vena contracta

[ vee-nuh kuh n-trak-tuh ]
/ ˈvi nə kənˈtræk tə /

noun, plural ve·nae con·trac·tae [vee-nee kuh n-trak-tee] /ˈvi ni kənˈtræk ti/. Hydraulics.

any of the locations in a jet of fluid emerging from an orifice where the cross section of the jet is at a minimum, especially the location of minimum cross section nearest the orifice.

Origin of vena contracta

< New Latin: contracted vein