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diaphragm

 - 7 dictionary results

di⋅a⋅phragm

  [dahy-uh-fram]
–noun
1. Anatomy.
a. a muscular, membranous or ligamentous wall separating two cavities or limiting a cavity.
b. the partition separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity in mammals.
2. Physical Chemistry.
a. a porous plate separating two liquids, as in a galvanic cell.
b. a semipermeable membrane.
3. a thin disk that vibrates when receiving or producing sound waves, as in a telephone, microphone, speaker, or the like.
4. Also called pessary. a thin, dome-shaped device, usually of rubber, for wearing over the uterine cervix during sexual intercourse to prevent conception.
5. a plate with a hole in the center or a ring that is placed on the axis of an optical instrument, as a camera, and that controls the amount of light entering the instrument.
6. a plate or web for stiffening metal-framed constructions.
–verb (used with object)
7. to furnish with a diaphragm.
8. to reduce the aperture of (a lens, camera, etc.) by means of a diaphragm.
Use diaphragm in a Sentence
Origin:
1350–1400; ME diafragma < LL diaphragma < Gk diáphragma the diaphragm, midriff, equiv. to dia- dia- + phrágma a fence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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di·a·phragm   (dī'ə-frām')   
n.  

  1. Anatomy A muscular membranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities and functioning in respiration. Also called midriff.

  2. A membranous part that divides or separates.

  3. A thin disk, especially in a microphone or telephone receiver, that vibrates in response to sound waves to produce electric signals, or that vibrates in response to electric signals to produce sound waves.

  4. A contraceptive device consisting of a thin flexible disk, usually made of rubber, that is designed to cover the uterine cervix to prevent the entry of sperm during sexual intercourse.

  5. A disk having a fixed or variable opening used to restrict the amount of light traversing a lens or optical system.


[Middle English diafragma, from Late Latin diaphragma, midriff, from Greek, partition, from diaphrassein, to barricade : dia-, intensive pref.; see dia- + phrassein, phrag-, to enclose.]
di'a·phrag·mat'ic (-frāg-māt'ĭk) adj., di'a·phrag·mat'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

diaphragm [(deye-uh-fram)]

A dome-shaped structure made up of muscle and connective tissue that separates the abdominal cavity from the thorax and functions in respiration. By movement of the diaphragm, air is either drawn into the lungs or forced out of them.

Note: The term diaphragm can also refer to a small flexible cap, usually made of rubber, that fits over the cervix and is used for contraception.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

diaphragm 
1398, from L.L. diaphragma, from Gk. diaphragma (gen. diaphragmatos) "partition, barrier," from diaphrassein "to barricade," from dia- "across" + phrassein "to fence or hedge in." The native word is midriff. Meaning "contraceptive cap" is from 1933.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: di·a·phragm
Pronunciation: 'dI-&-"fram
Function: noun
1 : a body partition of muscle and connective tissue;specifically : the partition separating the chest and abdominal cavities in mammals —see PELVICDIAPHRAGM, UROGENITAL DIAPHRAGM
2 : a device that limits the aperture of a lens oroptical system
3 : a molded cap usually of thin rubber fitted over the uterine cervix to act as a mechanical contraceptive barrier
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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diaphragm di·a·phragm (dī'ə-frām')
n.

  1. A musculomembranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities and functioning in respiration. Also called midriff.

  2. A membranous part that divides or separates.

  3. A contraceptive device consisting of a thin flexible disk, usually made of rubber, that is designed to cover the uterine cervix to prevent the entry of sperm during sexual intercourse.

  4. A disk having a fixed or variable opening used to restrict the amount of light traversing a lens or optical system.

di'a·phrag·mat'ic (-frāg-māt'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
diaphragm   (dī'ə-frām')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. The large muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity in mammals and is the principal muscle of respiration. As the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, the lungs expand and air moves into them. As the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, the lungs contract and air is forced out of them.

  2. A thin, flexible disk, especially in a microphone or telephone receiver, that vibrates in response to sound waves to produce electrical signals, or that vibrates in response to electrical signals to produce sound waves.

  3. A contraceptive device consisting of a thin flexible disk, usually made of rubber, that is designed to cover the cervix of the uterus to prevent the entry of sperm during sexual intercourse.

  4. An optical device in a camera or telescope that regulates the amount of light that enters the lens or optical system. The diaphragm consists of a disk with a circular opening of variable diameter.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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