Hypertext Webster Gateway: "reciprocating"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Reciprocate \Re*cip"ro*cate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p.
{Reciprocated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Reciprocating}.] [L.
reciprocatus, p. p. of reciprocare. See {Reciprocal}.]
To move forward and backward alternately; to recur in
vicissitude; to act interchangeably; to alternate.

One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, And draws
and blows reciprocating air. --Dryden.

{Reciprocating engine}, a steam, air, or gas engine, etc., in
which the piston moves back and forth; -- in distinction
from a rotary engine, in which the piston travels
continuously in one direction in a circular path.

{Reciprocating motion} (Mech.), motion alternately backward
and forward, or up and down, as of a piston rod.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

reciprocating
adj : moving alternately backward and forward [syn: {reciprocatory}]


Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup

Enter word here:
Exact Approx


dict.stokkie.net
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents; see the Webster Gateway FAQ, and also the Back-end/database links and credits.