1646 (earlier statical, 1570), "pertaining to the science of weight and its mechanical effects," from Mod.L. statica, from Gk. statikos "causing to stand, skilled in weighing," from stem of histanai "to cause to stand, weigh," from PIE base *sta- "stand" (see stet). The sense of "having to do with bodies at rest or with forces that balance each other" is first recorded 1802. Applied to frictional electricity from 1839. The noun meaning "radio noise" is first recorded 1913; fig. sense of "aggravation, criticism" is attested from 1926.
not in physical motion; "the inertia of an object at rest" [syn: inactive]
2.
concerned with or producing or caused by static electricity; "an electrostatic generator produces high-voltage static electricity" [syn: electrostatic]
3.
showing little if any change; "a static population"
noun
1.
a crackling or hissing noise caused by electrical interference
2.
angry criticism; "they will probably give you a lot of static about your editorial"
Noun
Distortion or interruption of a broadcast signal, such as crackling or noise in a receiver or specks on a television screen, often produced when background electromagnetic radiation in the atmosphere disturbs signal reception or when there are loose connections in the transmission or reception circuits.
Main Entry: stat·ic Pronunciation: 'stat-ik Function: adjective 1: characterized by a lack of movement or change <a static
condition> 2:ELECTROSTATIC —stat·i·cal·ly/-i-k(&-)lE/adverb
Hy`dro*stat"ic\, Hydrostatical \Hy`dro*stat"ic*al\, a. [Hydro-, 1 + Gr. ? causing to stand: cf. F. hydrostatique. See Static.] Of or relating to hydrostatics; pertaining to, or in accordance with, the principles of the equilibrium of fluids. The first discovery made in hydrostatics since the time of Archimedes is due to Stevinus. --Hallam. Hydrostatic balance, a balance for weighing substances in water, for the purpose of ascertaining their specific gravities. Hydrostatic bed, a water bed. Hydrostatic bellows, an apparatus consisting of a water-tight bellowslike case with a long, upright tube, into which water may be poured to illustrate the hydrostatic paradox. Hydrostatic paradox, the proposition in hydrostatics that any quantity of water, however small, may be made to counterbalance any weight, however great; or the law of the equality of pressure of fluids in all directions. Hydrostatic press, a machine in which great force, with slow motion, is communicated to a large plunger by means of water forced into the cylinder in which it moves, by a forcing pump of small diameter, to which the power is applied, the principle involved being the same as in the hydrostatic bellows. Also called hydraulic press, and Bramah press. In the illustration, a is a pump with a small plunger b, which forces the water into the cylinder c, thus driving upward the large plunder d, which performs the reduced work, such as compressing cotton bales, etc.
Stage\, n. [OF. estage, F. ['e]tage, (assumed) LL. staticum, from L. stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Static.]1. A floor or story of a house. [Obs.] --Wyclif. 2. An elevated platform on which an orator may speak, a play be performed, an exhibition be presented, or the like. 3. A floor elevated for the convenience of mechanical work, or the like; a scaffold; a staging. 4. A platform, often floating, serving as a kind of wharf. 5. The floor for scenic performances; hence, the theater; the playhouse; hence, also, the profession of representing dramatic compositions; the drama, as acted or exhibited. Knights, squires, and steeds, must enter on the stage. --Pope. Lo! Where the stage, the poor, degraded stage, Holds its warped mirror to a gaping age. --C. Sprague. 6. A place where anything is publicly exhibited; the scene of any noted action or carrer; the spot where any remarkable affair occurs. When we are born, we cry that we are come To this stage of fools. --Shak. Music and ethereal mirth Wherewith the stage of air and earth did ring. --Miton. 7. The platform of a microscope, upon which an object is placed to be viewed. See Illust. of Microscope. 8. A place of rest on a regularly traveled road; a stage house; a station; a place appointed for a relay of horses. 9. A degree of advancement in a journey; one of several portions into which a road or course is marked off; the distance between two places of rest on a road; as, a stage of ten miles. A stage . . . signifies a certain distance on a road. --Jeffrey. He traveled by gig, with his wife, his favorite horse performing the journey by easy stages. --Smiles. 10. A degree of advancement in any pursuit, or of progress toward an end or result. Such a polity is suited only to a particular stage in the progress of society. --Macaulay. 11. A large vehicle running from station to station for the accomodation of the public; a stagecoach; an omnibus. "A parcel sent you by the stage." --Cowper. I went in the sixpenny stage. --Swift. 12. (Biol.) One of several marked phases or periods in the development and growth of many animals and plants; as, the larval stage; pupa stage; z[oe]a stage. Stage box, a box close to the stage in a theater. Stage carriage, a stagecoach. Stage door, the actor's and workmen's entrance to a theater. Stage lights, the lights by which the stage in a theater is illuminated. Stage micrometer, a graduated device applied to the stage of a microscope for measuring the size of an object. Stage wagon, a wagon which runs between two places for conveying passengers or goods. Stage whisper, a loud whisper, as by an actor in a theater, supposed, for dramatic effect, to be unheard by one or more of his fellow actors, yet audible to the audience; an aside.
Stat"ic\, Statical \Stat"ic*al\, a. [Gr. ? causing to stand, skilled in weighing, fr. ? to cause to stand: cf. F. statique. See Stand, and cf. Stage.]1. Resting; acting by mere weight without motion; as, statical pressure; static objects. 2. Pertaining to bodies at rest or in equilibrium. Statical electricity. See Note under Electricity, 1. Statical moment. See under Moment.
Stat"ics\, n. [Cf. F. statique, Gr. ? the art of weighing, fr. ?. See Static.] That branch of mechanics which treats of the equilibrium of forces, or relates to bodies as held at rest by the forces acting on them; -- distinguished from dynamics. Social statics, the study of the conditions which concern the existence and permanence of the social state.
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