diaphragm
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diaphragm
- /ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/
Where it comes from
From Middle English diafragma, Ancient Greek διάφραγμα (diáphragma, “partition”), from διά (diá, “across”) and φράγμα (phrágma, “barrier”), from the verb φράσσω (phrássō). First attested in the late 14th century.
noun diaphragms
- In mammals, a sheet of muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen, contracted and relaxed in respiration to draw air into and expel air from the lungs. thoracic diaphragm
- Any of various membranes or sheets of muscle or ligament which separate one cavity from another.
- A contraceptive device consisting of a flexible cup, used to cover the cervix during intercourse. cervical diaphragm
- A flexible membrane separating two chambers and fixed around its periphery that distends into one or other chamber as the difference in the pressure in the chambers varies. This is effected by a novel and ingenious application of two flexible diaphragms—the upper of which, being acted upon by the lower, is pulled down on its seat, and forms a perfectly leakless joint.
- In a speaker, the thin, semi-rigid membrane which vibrates to produce sound. acoustic diaphragm
- A thin opaque structure with a central aperture, used to limit the passage of light into a camera or similar device.
- A permeable or semipermeable membrane. The mass of liquid transported through a porous diaphragm in a given time is directly proportional to the current.
- A floor slab, metal wall panel, roof panel or the like, having a sufficiently large in-plane shear stiffness and sufficient strength to transmit horizontal forces to resisting systems.
verb diaphragms · diaphragming · diaphragmed
- To reduce lens aperture using an optical diaphragm. He employs an equatorial with an object-glass having a focal length of five metres, and which was diaphragmed down to eight centimetres.
- To act as a diaphragm, for example by vibrating. The holes and burning are caused by the part diaphragming at 20000-40000 cycles/second.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: midriff, pessary, stop, contraceptive diaphragm, septum, membrane, orifice, liner, gusset, iris, skirt, bucky, mics, moulded, barrier, partition
Translations
Every language
noun mechanics: flexible membrane
| Español | diafragma |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 격막 gyeongmak, 가로막 garomak |
| Português | diafragma |
| Français | membrane |
| Deutsch | Membran |
| Italiano | diaframma |
| Română | membrană, diafragmă |
| Русский | мембра́на membrána, диафра́гма diafrágma |
noun anatomy: sheet of muscle separating thorax from abdomen
| Español | diafragma |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 횡격막 hoenggyeongmak, 가로막 garomak |
| 日本語 | 横隔膜 ōkakumaku |
| 中文 | 橫膈膜 /横膈膜 hénggémó |
| हिन्दी | मध्यपट madhyapaṭ, तनुपट tanupaṭ, मध्यच्छद madhyacchad |
| Português | diafragma |
| Français | diaphragme |
| Deutsch | Zwerchfell |
| Italiano | diaframma |
| Ελληνικά | διάφραγμα diáfragma |
| Română | diafragmă |
| Русский | диафра́гма diafrágma |
| Tiếng Việt | cơ hoành |
| العربية | حِجَاب حَاجِز ḥijāb ḥājiz |
noun anatomy: separating membrane or sheet of muscle
| हिन्दी | मध्यपट madhyapaṭ |
|---|---|
| Kiswahili | kiwambo |
| Русский | мембра́на membrána |
noun contraceptive device
| Español | diafragma |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | मध्यपट madhyapaṭ |
| Português | diafragma |
| Français | diaphragme |
| Deutsch | Diaphragma, Scheidendiaphragma, Pessar |
| Italiano | diaframma |
| Русский | диафра́гма diafrágma |
noun acoustics: vibrating membrane in a speaker
| Español | diafragma |
|---|---|
| Română | membrană |
| Русский | мембра́на membrána, диффузо́р diffuzór |
noun optics: structure with a central aperture used to limit the passage of light
| Español | diafragma |
|---|---|
| Français | diaphragme |
| Deutsch | Blende |
| Italiano | diaframma lamellare |
| Română | diafragmă |
| Русский | диафра́гма diafrágma |
noun chemistry: permeable or semipermeable membrane
| Русский | мембра́на membrána |
|---|
verb optics: to reduce lens aperture
| Español | diafragmar |
|---|---|
| Français | diaphragmer |
Talk about this word "diaphragm." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/diaphragm. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. diaphragm. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/diaphragm "diaphragm." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/diaphragm.Cite this
@misc{diaphragm_2026,
title = {diaphragm},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/diaphragm},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
