vertical : Idioms & Phrases


Deviation of the line of the vertical

  • the difference between the actual direction of a plumb line and the direction it would have if the earth were a perfect ellipsoid and homogeneous, caused by the attraction of a mountain, or irregularities in the earth's density.
Webster 1913

Prime vertical

  • (Astron.), the vertical circle which passes through the east and west points of the horizon.
Webster 1913

Prime vertical, Prime vertical dial

  • . See under Prime, a.
Webster 1913

Prime-vertical dial

  • a dial in which the shadow is projected on the plane of the prime vertical.
Webster 1913

Prime-vertical transit instrument

  • a transit instrument the telescope of which revolves in the plane of the prime vertical, used for observing the transit of stars over this circle.
Webster 1913

Seismic vertical

  • the point upon the earth's surface vertically over the center of effort or focal point whence the earthquake's impulse proceeds, or the vertical line connecting these two points.
Webster 1913

Vertical angle

  • noun either of two equal and opposite angles formed by the intersection of two straight lines
WordNet
  • (Astron. & Geod.), an angle measured on a vertical circle, called an angle of elevation, or altitude, when reckoned from the horizon upward, and of depression when downward below the horizon.
Webster 1913

Vertical anthers

  • (Bot.), such anthers as stand erect at the top of the filaments.
Webster 1913

vertical bank

  • noun a bank so steep that the plane's lateral axis approaches the vertical
WordNet

Vertical circle

  • noun a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon
WordNet
  • (Astron.), an azimuth circle. See under Azimuth.
Webster 1913

vertical combination

  • noun absorption into a single firm of several firms involved in all aspects of a product's manufacture from raw materials to distribution
    vertical combination.
WordNet

Vertical drill

  • an drill. See under Upright.
Webster 1913

vertical file

  • noun a file in which records are stored upright on one edge
WordNet

vertical fin

  • noun a stabilizer that is part of the vertical tail structure of an airplane
    tail fin; vertical stabiliser; vertical fin; tailfin.
WordNet

Vertical fire

  • (Mil.), the fire, as of mortars, at high angles of elevation.
Webster 1913

vertical flute

  • noun a tubular wind instrument with 8 finger holes and a fipple mouthpiece
    fipple flute; recorder; fipple pipe.
WordNet

vertical integration

  • noun absorption into a single firm of several firms involved in all aspects of a product's manufacture from raw materials to distribution
    vertical combination.
WordNet

Vertical leaves

  • (Bot.), leaves which present their edges to the earth and the sky, and their faces to the horizon, as in the Australian species of Eucalyptus.
Webster 1913

Vertical limb

  • a graduated arc attached to an instrument, as a theodolite, for measuring vertical angles.
Webster 1913

Vertical line

  • . (a) (Dialing) A line perpendicular to the horizon. (b) (Conic Sections) A right line drawn on the vertical plane, and passing through the vertex of the cone. (c) (Surv.) The direction of a plumb line; a line normal to the surface of still water. (d) (Geom., Drawing, etc.) A line parallel to the sides of a page or sheet, in distinction from a horizontal line parallel to the top or bottom.
Webster 1913

Vertical plane

  • . (a) (Conic Sections) A plane passing through the vertex of a cone, and through its axis. (b) (Projections) Any plane which passes through a vertical line. (c) (Persp.) The plane passing through the point of sight, and perpendicular to the ground plane, and also to the picture.
Webster 1913

Vertical sash

  • a sash sliding up and down. Cf. French sash, under 3d Sash.
Webster 1913

vertical section

  • noun a mechanical drawing showing the interior of an object as if made by a vertical plane passing through it
WordNet

vertical stabiliser

  • noun a stabilizer that is part of the vertical tail structure of an airplane
    tail fin; vertical stabiliser; vertical fin; tailfin.
WordNet

vertical stabilizer

  • noun a stabilizer that is part of the vertical tail structure of an airplane
    tail fin; vertical stabiliser; vertical fin; tailfin.
WordNet

Vertical steam engine

  • a steam engine having the crank shaft vertically above or below a vertical cylinder.
Webster 1913

vertical surface

  • noun a surface that is vertical
WordNet

vertical tail

  • noun the vertical airfoil in the tail assembly of an aircraft
WordNet

vertical union

  • noun a labor union that admits all workers in a given industry irrespective of their craft
    industrial union.
WordNet