1. Plural of catenary; curves formed by a flexible chain or cable hanging freely under its own weight between two fixed points.
Usage: mathematics; physics; engineering
2. Overhead wires or cables that supply electric power to trains or trams, suspended in a catenary curve.
Usage: transportation; infrastructure

Examples

• The bridge's suspension cables form perfect catenaries between the towers.
• Engineers studied the catenaries to understand how the weight distributes along the cable.
• The train's pantograph connects to the catenaries to draw electrical power.
• Catenaries appear naturally in many structures, from power lines to architectural designs.
• The mathematical equation describing catenaries involves the hyperbolic cosine function.
• Modern tram systems rely on well-maintained catenaries for safe operation.