catenary

noun

cat·​e·​nary ˈka-tə-ˌner-ē 

-ˌne-rē,

 especially British  kə-ˈtē-nə-rē

plural catenaries

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

Examples of catenary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new locomotive draws electricity from overhead catenary wires and transfers to battery power when needed, according to an online release. —Lucy Handley, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025

The overhead catenary power lines for all four tracks failed shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday night, a transit source told the Daily News, bringing service on Metro-North’s New Haven Line and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor to a halt. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025

But an overhead catenary costs that much for a quarter mile [0.4 kilometer] of the track. —IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2024

While much of the initial track-laying work will take place along the riverfront, crews will eventually need to close down the curving Berkley Parkway bridge twice in order to install tracks and overhead catenary wires along it. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2024

Third, the old catenary limits the speed of trains, even at middling temperatures. —Nolan Hicks, Curbed, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for catenary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• cautionary
• cemetery