Main Entry: cat·e·nary

Pronunciation: \ˈka-tə-ˌner-ē, -ˌne-rē, especially British kə-ˈtē-nə-rē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural cat·e·nar·ies

Etymology: New Latin catenaria, from Latin, feminine of catenarius of a chain, from catena

Date: 1788

1 : the curve assumed by a cord of uniform density and cross section that is perfectly flexible but not capable of being stretched and that hangs freely from two fixed points
2 : something in the form of a catenary

— catenary adjective