FROM THE ARCHIVEWednesday, October 28, 2026
catenary
KAT-uh-nair-ee/ˈkætəˌnɛɹi//noun
01 / MEANING
The curve formed by a uniform chain or cable hanging freely between two supports.
In a sentence.
- 01
She traced the catenary of a chain suspended between two hooks.
- 02
The overhead wire formed a gentle catenary between the poles.
Where it came from.
Catenary comes from Late Latin catenaria, related to Latin catēna, ‘chain.’ The name points to the curve's simplest physical example.
Explore the sourceWhy it’s interesting.
A hanging chain draws a specific mathematical curve, distinct from a parabola.