pascal

noun pas·cal \ pa-ˈskal , pä-ˈskäl \

Definition of pascal

1 : a unit of pressure in the meter-kilogram-second system equivalent to one newton per square meter

2 capitalized P or all capitalized : a structured computer programming language developed from Algol and designed to process both numerical and textual data

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Recent Examples of pascal from the Web

The active mixing of material creates powerful whirlwinds even at a depth where the pressure is more than 10 million pascals, or around 100 times the atmospheric pressure of Earth at sea level.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The Juno Spacecraft Reveals New Mysteries at Jupiter," 25 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pascal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pascal

Blaise Pascal

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1956

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Pascal

biographical name Pas·cal \ pa-ˈskal , pä-ˈskäl \

Definition of Pascal

Blaise 1623–1662 French mathematician and philosopher

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Pascalian

play \pa-ˈska-lē-ən\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

pascal

noun pas·cal \ pas-ˈkal \

medical Definition of pascal

: a unit of pressure in the mks system equivalent to one newton per square meter or to 1.45 × 10⁻⁴ pounds per square inch

Biographical Note for pascal

Pascal play \pȧs-kȧl\, Blaise (1623–1662), French mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher. A mathematical prodigy as a child, Pascal completed an original treatise on conic sections by the time he was 16. He undertook the study of geometry, hydrodynamics, and hydrostatic and atmospheric pressure. From 1651 to 1654 he composed treatises on the weight and density of air, on Pascal's triangle, and on the equilibrium of liquid solutions. In this last treatise he formulated Pascal's law of pressure. He is also credited with laying the foundations for the theory of probability. Pascal is a major figure in French literature and religious philosophy.