3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Diaphragm  \Di"a*phragm\,  n.  [L.  diaphragma,  Gr  ?,  fr  ?  to 
  fence  by  a  partition  wall;  dia`  through  +  ?,  ?,  to  fence, 
  inclose;  prob.  akin  to  L.  fareire  to  stuff:  cf  F. 
  diaphragme.  See  {Farce}.] 
  1.  A  dividing  membrane  or  thin  partition,  commonly  with  an 
  opening  through  it 
 
  2.  (Anat.)  The  muscular  and  tendinous  partition  separating 
  the  cavity  of  the  chest  from  that  of  the  abdomen;  the 
  midriff. 
 
  3.  (Zo["o]l.)  A  calcareous  plate  which  divides  the  cavity  of 
  certain  shells  into  two  parts 
 
  4.  (Opt.)  A  plate  with  an  opening,  which  is  generally 
  circular,  used  in  instruments  to  cut  off  marginal  portions 
  of  a  beam  of  light,  as  at  the  focus  of  a  telescope. 
 
  5.  (Mach.)  A  partition  in  any  compartment,  for  various 
  purposes. 
 
  {Diaphragm  pump},  one  in  which  a  flexible  diaphragm  takes  the 
  place  of  a  piston. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  diaphragm 
  n  1:  controls  size  of  aperture  of  the  lens;  "the  new  cameras 
  adjust  the  diaphragm  automatically"  [syn:  {stop}] 
  2:  (anatomy)  a  muscular  partition  separating  the  abdominal  and 
  thoracic  cavities;  functions  in  respiration  [syn:  {midriff}] 
  3:  a  contraceptive  device  consisting  of  a  flexible  dome-shaped 
  cup  made  of  rubber  or  plastic;  it  is  filled  with 
  spermicide  and  fitted  over  the  uterine  cervix  [syn:  {pessary}, 
  {contraceptive  diaphragm}] 
  4:  vibrates  to  receive  or  produce  sound  waves 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  DIAPHRAGM,  n.  A  muscular  partition  separating  disorders  of  the  chest 
  from  disorders  of  the  bowels. 
 
 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words