pan·to·graph

[pan-tuh-graf, -grahf]
noun
1.
Also, pantagraph. an instrument for the mechanical copying of plans, diagrams, etc., on any desired scale.
2.
Electricity. a device usually consisting of two parallel, hinged, double-diamond frames, for transferring current from an overhead wire to a vehicle, as a trolley car or electric locomotive.

Origin:
1715–25; panto- + -graph

pan·tog·ra·pher [pan-tog-ruh-fer] , noun
pan·to·graph·ic [pan-tuh-graf-ik] , pan·to·graph·i·cal, adjective
pan·to·graph·i·cal·ly, adverb
pan·tog·ra·phy, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To pantograph
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Pantograph is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Collins
World English Dictionary
pantograph (ˈpæntəˌɡrɑːf) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  an instrument consisting of pivoted levers for copying drawings, maps, etc, to any desired scale
2.  a sliding type of current collector, esp a diamond-shaped frame mounted on a train roof in contact with an overhead wire
3.  a device consisting of a parallelogram of jointed rods used to suspend a studio lamp so that its height can be adjusted
 
pantographer
 
n
 
pantographic
 
adj
 
panto'graphically
 
adv
 
pan'tography
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

pantograph

instrument for duplicating a motion or copying a geometric shape to a reduced or enlarged scale. It consists of an assemblage of rigid bars adjustably joined by pin joints; as the point of one bar is moved over the outline to be duplicated, the motion is translated to a point on another bar, which makes the desired copy according to the predetermined scale. In the the links 2, 3, 4, and 5 are connected by pin joints at O, A, B, and C. Joint O is fixed to a support, while joints A, B, and C are free to move. Link 5 is a solid bar continuing on to Q. Point P is the guided point and is usually fixed on link 4. As P is guided on a specific path, such as the square in the , point Q will follow a similar path on an enlarged scale. Conversely, if point Q is guided, point P will follow a similar path on a reduced scale

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Example sentences
Light rail vehicles are driven electrically with power being drawn from an
  overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph.
Include such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and
  silk screen etchers.
He used a homemade version of a pantograph, with which he produced exact
  full-size details of these monuments.
The shading includes a pantograph that becomes visible when copied.
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