1
: a thin wood or metal strip used in building construction
2
: a key that is fixed to one of two connected mechanical parts and fits into a keyway in the other
also
: a keyway for such a key
3
: a function that is defined on an interval, is used to approximate a given function, and is composed of pieces of simple functions defined on subintervals and joined at their endpoints with a suitable degree of smoothness
Examples of spline in a Sentence
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The circular spline: A completely rigid ring with internal teeth, similar to a planetary ring gear, and with two more teeth than the flexspline.
—
New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
To replace a screen: Carefully remove the existing spline from your window or door.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Avoid taping over the channel where the spline goes.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, according to the notice, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 10 June 2024
Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, or cause a loss of drive power.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
In 1968 two professors founded the pioneering graphics hardware company Evans & Sutherland; by 1978, fundamental rendering and visualization techniques disclosed in doctoral dissertations included the Warnock algorithm, Gouraud shading, the Catmull-Rom spline, and the Blinn-Phong reflection model.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2023
Run the blade along the outside of the spline to cut the screen material away, being careful not to cut the spline or the screen on the inside of the spline.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2022
Align the drive splines inside the wheel with the drive cog and press the wheel into place.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023
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New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
To replace a screen: Carefully remove the existing spline from your window or door.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Avoid taping over the channel where the spline goes.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, according to the notice, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 10 June 2024
Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, or cause a loss of drive power.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
In 1968 two professors founded the pioneering graphics hardware company Evans & Sutherland; by 1978, fundamental rendering and visualization techniques disclosed in doctoral dissertations included the Warnock algorithm, Gouraud shading, the Catmull-Rom spline, and the Blinn-Phong reflection model.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2023
Run the blade along the outside of the spline to cut the screen material away, being careful not to cut the spline or the screen on the inside of the spline.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2022
Align the drive splines inside the wheel with the drive cog and press the wheel into place.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Spline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spline. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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