Fu-nic'ū-lar, a.
a. [Fr. funiculaire, Sp. funicular. See supra.]
- Consisting of a small cord or fiber.
- Dependent on the tension of a cord.
Funicular action (Mech.), the force or action exerted by a rope in drawing together the supports to which its ends are fastened, when acted upon by a power at the middle, as in the archer's bow. — Funicular curve. See CATENARY. — Funicular machine, an apparatus for illustrating certain principles in statics, consisting of a cord or chain attached at one end to a fixed point, and having the other passed over a pulley and sustaining a weight, while one or more other weights are suspended from the cord at points between the fixed support and the pulley. — Funicular polygon, the polygonal figure assumed by a cord supported at its extremities, and sustaining weights at different points.