R/T
adjectiveAutomotive
Initialism of road and track; used to indicate a high performance edition of a vehicle or part, capable of use for everyday driving as well as amateur racing.
Terms starting with R
282 terms.
R2R
Abbreviation of roll-to-roll processing.
rabbet joint
See definition at rabbet.
race
A guide or channel that a component of a machine moves along:
race condition
A flaw in a system or process whereby the output or result is unexpectedly and critically dependent on the sequence or timing of other events.
race rotation
The rotation of the inner and outer parts of a bearing race.
racetracking
nounManufacturing
The situation where material is not correctly aligned with the edge of a mold, leaving an empty channel.
racing jack
nounAutomotive
A jack with a pumping action that lifts a car very quickly
rack
A bar with teeth on its face or edge, to work with a pawl as a ratchet allowing movement in one direction only, used for example in a handbrake or crossbow.
rack railway
nounRail equipment
A railway that uses a rack and pinion mechanism.
racking
nounConstruction
A method of asphalt shingle application, whereby shingle courses are applied vertically, up the roof rather than laterally across and up.
rad
Clipping of radiator.
radar cross section
A measure of the detectability of an object by radar.
radial shaft seal
A seal for any rotary element.
radiant heat
Heat or warmth transferred directly to people and objects in a space via infrared radiation, similar to the sun's warmth, rather than heating the air first via convection.
radiator
A device that lowers engine coolant temperature by conducting heat to the air, through metal fins.
radiator hose
A rubber hose of a large diameter which carries engine coolant between the engine and radiator, and then backs towards the water pump.
radio-frequency identification
The storage and retrieval of data using tags attached to individual packages, animals or people; the tags contain an integrated circuit to store and process the data, and an antenna to transmit and receive such data.
radish ripper
The daikon, particularly when its large roots are left in a field through the winter to reduce soil compaction, rather than harvested for consumption.
radium
A type of cloth woven from silk or synthetic yarn, often with a shiny appearance.
raggle
nounConstruction
A groove or slot, often cut in a masonry wall or other vertical surface, for inserting an inset flashing component such as a reglet.
ragi
nounManufacturing
A type of yeast traditionally used in winemaking, baking, and brewing, now identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
rah-rah
nounManufacturing
Ellipsis of rah-rah skirt.
rail
A conductor maintained at a fixed electrical potential relative to ground, to which other circuit components are connected.
rail anchor
nounRail equipment
A spring steel clip that attaches to the underside of the rail baseplate and bears against the sides of the sleepers to prevent longitudinal movement of the rail.
rail brake
A type of brake, often magnetic or electromagnetic, which is pressed against the rail in railway track.
rail grinder
A rail maintenance vehicle used to restore the profile and remove irregularities, such as corrugations, from worn tracks to extend their life, and to improve the ride of trains using the track.
rail head
nounRail equipment
The top part of a railway rail; the part of the rail the wheel runs on.
rail joint
nounRail equipment
A join between two rails in a railway track placed end to end; the rails are joined by fishplates where joints are not welded.
rail spike
nounRail equipment
A type of large nail with an offset head used to fasten a rail or base plate to a wooden railroad tie/sleeper.
rail terminal
A rail-served facility used for the transfer of freight or passengers to or from other modes of transportation.
rail trail
nounRail equipment
A former railway track converted into a multi-use path, typically as a greenway for walking and cycling.
rail wagon
nounRail equipment
A flat wagon used for carrying railway rails.
railcar
A powered single railway vehicle designed for passenger transport, with a driver's cab in both ends; Not to be confused with motor coach/motorcar, which is a powered railway vehicle capable to haul a train.
railroad spike
nounRail equipment
A type of large nail that fixes a railway line to a sleeper.
railroad tie
A heavy, preserved piece of hewn timber laid crossways to and supporting the rails of a railroad or a member of similar shape and function of another material such as concrete.
railroad track
nounRail equipment
A pair of formed steel rails, separated and supported usually on wooden or concrete ties or sleepers, forming a track along which flange-wheeled railroad vehicles may travel.
railway key
nounRail equipment
A key that allows one to lock and unlock doors to railway carriages and compartments, typically only permitted to railway employees.
railway signal
A visual or mechanical device that conveys instructions or provides a warning regarding the train driver's authority to proceed.
rainbow era
A period in the early 1970s when Amtrak operated a fleet of used equipment that still carried the paint schemes of their previous owners.
raise
verbMetallurgy
To cause to rise; to lift or elevate.
raise steam
verbRail equipment
To build up a useful head (pressure level) of steam in a steam-engined vehicle's boiler.
raising piece
nounConstruction
A piece of timber laid on a brick wall, or on a frame, to carry one or more beams.
raising plate
nounConstruction
A horizontal timber supporting the heels of rafters.
rake
A garden tool with a row of pointed teeth fixed to a long handle, used for collecting debris, grass, etc., for flattening the ground, or for loosening soil; also, a similar wheel-mounted tool drawn by a horse or a tractor.
raking fire
The act of clearing vegetation and create firebreaks by cutting brush and raking away flammable debris (with fire rakes).
Raku
A style of Japanese pottery, considered the traditional style for the pottery used in the Japanese tea ceremony; (especially capitalized) such pottery made by the Raku family.
ramline
nounManufacturing
A line made from a cord or thread, used to get a straight middle line, or from stern to stern during the building a vessel.
ramp travel index
nounAutomotive
A measure of the ability of an off-road vehicle to flex its suspension.
random access memory
Computer memory, usually volatile, that stores program and data values during operation and in which each word of memory may be directly (randomly) accessed.
range anxiety
nounAutomotive
The fear that a vehicle (especially a battery electric vehicle) has insufficient range to reach its destination and will therefore strand its occupants.
range extender
nounAutomotive
A fuel-based auxiliary power unit that extends the range of a battery electric vehicle by driving an electric generator that charges the vehicle's battery.
range out
verbSurveying
To mark intermediate points between two survey stations.
rap
verbMetalworking
To free (a pattern) in a mould by light blows on the pattern, so as to facilitate its removal.
rape culture
The cultivation (growing or production) of rape.
rat-tail splice
A simple method of joining two ends of metal wire by twisting them together.
RCP
Initialism of reinforced concrete pipe.
re-tractioning
nounRail equipment
Renewal of traction equipment, in particular traction motors.
reaper-binder
A type of harvester for grain crops that combines a reaper with a binder; it is now largely obsolete because combine harvesters have largely replaced it, but it remains in use in certain situations and communities in which it remains practically useful.
rear-end
verbAutomotive
Of a vehicle, to strike (another vehicle) from behind.