| atmospheric | 1. Of or pertaining to the atmosphere; of the nature of, or resembling, the atmosphere; as, atmospheric air; the atmospheric envelope of the earth. 2. Existing in the atmosphere. "The lower atmospheric current." (Darwin) 3. Caused, or operated on, by the atmosphere; as, an atmospheric effect; an atmospheric engine. 4. Dependent on the atmosphere. "In am so atmospherical a creature." (Pope) Atmospheric engine, a steam engine whose piston descends by the pressure of the atmosphere, when the steam which raised it is condensed within the cylinder. <engineering> Atmospheric line, the equilibrium line of an indicator card. Steam is expanded "down to the atmosphere" when its pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere. (See Indicator card) Atmospheric pressure, the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, not merely downwards, but in every direction. In amounts to about 14.7 Ibs. On each square inch. Atmospheric railway, one in which pneumatic power, obtained from compressed air or the creation of a vacuum, is the propelling force. Atmospheric tides. See Tide. Origin: Cf. F. Atmospherique. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| atmospheric pressure | The pressure at any point in an atmosphere due solely to the weight of the atmospheric gases above the point concerned. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atmospherical | 1. Of or pertaining to the atmosphere; of the nature of, or resembling, the atmosphere; as, atmospheric air; the atmospheric envelope of the earth. 2. Existing in the atmosphere. "The lower atmospheric current." (Darwin) 3. Caused, or operated on, by the atmosphere; as, an atmospheric effect; an atmospheric engine. 4. Dependent on the atmosphere. "In am so atmospherical a creature." (Pope) Atmospheric engine, a steam engine whose piston descends by the pressure of the atmosphere, when the steam which raised it is condensed within the cylinder. <engineering> Atmospheric line, the equilibrium line of an indicator card. Steam is expanded "down to the atmosphere" when its pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere. (See Indicator card) Atmospheric pressure, the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, not merely downwards, but in every direction. In amounts to about 14.7 Ibs. On each square inch. Atmospheric railway, one in which pneumatic power, obtained from compressed air or the creation of a vacuum, is the propelling force. Atmospheric tides. See Tide. Origin: Cf. F. Atmospherique. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| atmospherically | In relation to the atmosphere. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |