Found 2 items, similar to atmospheric pressure.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: atmospheric pressure atmospheric pressure n : the pressure exerted by the atmosphere [syn: air pressure]
English → English (gcide) Definition: Atmospheric pressure Pressure \Pres"sure\ (?; 138), n. [OF., fr. L. pressura, fr. premere. See 4th Press.] 1. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand. [1913 Webster] 2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization. [1913 Webster] Where the pressure of danger was not felt. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 3. Affliction; distress; grievance. [1913 Webster] My people's pressures are grievous. --Eikon Basilike. [1913 Webster] In the midst of his great troubles and pressures. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster] 4. Urgency; as, the pressure of business. [1913 Webster] 5. Impression; stamp; character impressed. [1913 Webster] All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 6. (Mech.) The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the amount upon a unit's area. [1913 Webster] 7. Electro-motive force. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] Atmospheric pressure, Center of pressure, etc. See under Atmospheric, Center, etc. Back pressure (Steam engine), pressure which resists the motion of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find free outlet. Fluid pressure, pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a point. --Rankine. Pressure gauge, a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a manometer. [1913 Webster] Atmospheric \At`mos*pher"ic\, Atmospherical \At`mos*pher"ic*al\, a. [Cf. F. atmosph['e]rique.] 1. Of or pertaining to the atmosphere; of the nature of, or resembling, the atmosphere; as, atmospheric air; the atmospheric envelope of the earth. [1913 Webster] 2. Existing or occurring in the atmosphere. [1913 Webster] The lower atmospheric current. --Darwin. [1913 Webster] 3. Caused, or operated on, by the atmosphere; as, an atmospheric effect; an atmospheric engine. [1913 Webster] 4. Dependent on the atmosphere. [R.] [1913 Webster] In am so atmospherical a creature. --Pope. [1913 Webster] 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. --Tomlinson. Atmospheric line (Steam Engin.), 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 under Tide. [1913 Webster]