Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


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

universalmore about universal

universal

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Universal  \U`ni*ver"sal\,  n. 
  1.  The  whole;  the  general  system  of  the  universe;  the 
  universe.  [Obs.] 
 
  Plato  calleth  God  the  cause  and  original,  the  nature 
  and  reason,  of  the  universal.  --Sir  W. 
  Raleigh. 
 
  2.  (Logic) 
  a  A  general  abstract  conception,  so  called  from  being 
  universally  applicable  to  or  predicable  of  each 
  individual  or  species  contained  under  it 
  b  A  universal  proposition.  See  {Universal},  a.,  4. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Universal  \U`ni*ver"sal\,  a.  [L.  universalis:  cf  F.  universel, 
  OF  also  universal.  See  {Universe}.] 
  1.  Of  or  pertaining  to  the  universe;  extending  to  including, 
  or  affecting,  the  whole  number,  quantity,  or  space; 
  unlimited;  general;  all-reaching;  all-pervading;  as 
  universal  ruin;  universal  good;  universal  benevolence  or 
  benefice.  ``Anointed  universal  King.''  --Milton. 
 
  The  universal  cause  Acts  not  by  partial,  but  by 
  general  laws.  --Pope. 
 
  This  universal  frame  began.  --Dryden. 
 
  Note:  Universal  and  its  derivatives  are  used  in  common 
  discourse  for  general  and  its  derivatives.  See 
  {General}. 
 
  2.  Constituting  or  considered  as  a  whole;  total;  entire; 
  whole;  as  the  universal  world.  --Shak. 
 
  At  which  the  universal  host  up  dent  A  shout  that 
  tore  Hell's  concave.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  (Mech.)  Adapted  or  adaptable  to  all  or  to  various  uses, 
  shapes,  sizes,  etc.;  as  a  universal  milling  machine. 
 
  4.  (Logic)  Forming  the  whole  of  a  genus;  relatively  unlimited 
  in  extension;  affirmed  or  denied  of  the  whole  of  a 
  subject;  as  a  universal  proposition;  --  opposed  to 
  {particular};  e.  g.  (universal  affirmative)  All  men  are 
  animals;  (universal  negative)  No  men  are  omniscient. 
 
  {Universal  chuck}  (Mach.),  a  chuck,  as  for  a  lathe,  having 
  jaws  which  can  be  moved  simultaneously  so  as  to  grasp 
  objects  of  various  sizes. 
 
  {Universal  church},  the  whole  church  of  God  in  the  world;  the 
  catholic  church.  See  the  Note  under  {Catholic},  a.,  1. 
 
  {Universal  coupling}.  (Mach.)  Same  as  {Universal  joint}, 
  below. 
 
  {Universal  dial},  a  dial  by  which  the  hour  may  be  found  in 
  any  part  of  the  world,  or  under  any  elevation  of  the  pole. 
 
 
  {Universal  instrument}  (Astron.),  a  species  of  altitude  and 
  azimuth  instrument,  the  peculiarity  of  which  is  that  the 
  object  end  of  the  telescope  is  placed  at  right  angles  to 
  the  eye  end  with  a  prism  of  total  reflection  at  the 
  angle,  and  the  eye  end  constitutes  a  portion  of  the 
  horizontal  axis  of  the  instrument,  having  the  eyepiece  at 
  the  pivot  and  in  the  center  of  the  altitude  circle,  so 
  that  the  eye  has  convenient  access  to  both  at  the  same 
  time. 
 
  {Universal  joint}  (Mach.),  a  contrivance  used  for  joining  two 
  shafts  or  parts  of  a  machine  endwise,  so  that  the  one  may 
  give  rotary  motion  to  the  other  when  forming  an  angle  with 
  it  or  may  move  freely  in  all  directions  with  respect  to 
  the  other  as  by  means  of  a  cross  connecting  the  forked 
  ends  of  the  two  shafts  (Fig.  1).  Since  this  joint  can  not 
  act  when  the  angle  of  the  shafts  is  less  than  140[deg],  a 
  double  joint  of  the  same  kind  is  sometimes  used  for  giving 
  rotary  motion  at  angles  less  than  140[deg]  (Fig.  2). 
 
  {Universal  umbel}  (Bot.),  a  primary  or  general  umbel;  the 
  first  or  largest  set  of  rays  in  a  compound  umbel;  -- 
  opposed  to  partial  umbel.  A  universal  involucre  is  not 
  unfrequently  placed  at  the  foot  of  a  universal  umbel. 
 
  Syn:  General;  all  whole;  total.  See  {General}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  universal 
  adj  :  of  worldwide  scope  or  applicability;  "an  issue  of 
  cosmopolitan  import";  "the  shrewdest  political  and 
  ecumenical  comment  of  our  time"-  Christopher  Morley; 
  "universal  experience"  [syn:  {cosmopolitan},  {ecumenical}, 
  {oecumenical},  {general},  {worldwide}] 
  n  :  coupling  that  connects  two  rotating  shafts  allowing  freedom 
  of  movement  in  all  directions;  "in  motor  vehicles  a 
  universal  joint  allows  the  driveshaft  to  move  up  and  down 
  as  the  vehicle  passes  over  bumps"  [syn:  {universal  joint}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Universal,  IN  (town,  FIPS  77912) 
  Location:  39.62160  N,  87.45302  W 
  Population  (1990):  392  (179  housing  units) 
  Area:  0.7  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water)




more about universal