BEARING

Bearing

A bearing is a machine element that constrains relative motion between moving parts to only the desired motion. The design of the bearing may, for example, provide for free linear movement of the moving part or for free rotation around a fixed axis; or, it may prevent a motion by controlling the vectors of normal forces that bear on the moving parts. Many bearings also facilitate the desired motion as much as possible, such as by minimizing friction. Bearings are classified broadly according to the type of operation, the motions allowed, or to the directions of the loads applied to the parts.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Bearing (mechanical)
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bearing

Noun

  1. A mechanical device that supports another part and/or reduces friction.
  2. The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and another object, or between it and that of true north; a heading or direction.
  3. Relevance; a relationship or connection.
    That has no bearing on this issue.
  4. One's posture, demeanor, or manner.
    She walks with a confident, self-assured bearing.
  5. Direction or relative position.
  6. That part of any member of a building which rests upon its supports.
    A lintel or beam may have four inches of bearing upon the wall.
  7. The portion of a support on which anything rests.
  8. The unsupported span.
    The beam has twenty feet of bearing between its supports.
  9. Any single emblem or charge in an escutcheon or coat of arms.

Verb

bearing

Adjective

  1. Of a beam, column, or other device, carrying weight or load.
    That's a bearing wall.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: bearing
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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