noun
- Plural of catenoid; a three-dimensional surface of revolution formed by rotating a catenary curve around an axis, commonly seen in soap films and minimal surfaces.
Usage: mathematics; geometry; technical
Examples
- The catenoids formed by the soap film demonstrated the principles of minimal surfaces.
- Mathematicians study catenoids to understand the geometry of surfaces with zero mean curvature.
- The shape of a hanging chain naturally suggests the profile of a catenoid.
- Catenoids appear frequently in architecture and engineering as efficient structural forms.