Search for a term, or browse the database by letter.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A Jointing - See Joining

A-Frame. - A building structure where the main structural members forming the roof and floors are in an A-shape.

AA. - Aluminum Association.

AAA. - American Arbitration Association.

AAC. - 1. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

AAN. - American Association of Nurserymen.

AASHTO. - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Abacus. - The flat slab on top of a column capital, supporting the architrave.

Abandonment. - The failure of both parties to a contract to abide by its terms.

Abattoir. - A slaughterhouse; a place where animals are butchered for food.

Aberration. - A distortion of an image produced by a faulty lens or mirror.

Above Ground Tank. - A large above ground vessel used for the storage of liquids.

Abrade. - Scrape or wear away by friction.

Abrams Law. - A rule stating that with given concrete materials and conditions of test, the ratio of the amount of water to the amount of the cement in the mixture determines the strength of the concrete, provided the mixture is of a workable consistency.

Abrasion Resistance. - Ability of a surface to resist being worn away by rubbing and friction.

Abrasion. - Wearing away by friction.

Abrasive Coatings. - In closed coating of paper no adhesive is exposed, as surface of paper is completely covered with abrasive; in open coating, surface of backing paper is covered with regulated amount of abrasive, exposing the adhesive; space between the abrasive grains rces loading and filling when sanding gummy or soft materials.

Abrasive Paper. - Paper with an abrasive surface; sandpaper, emery paper; garnet paper.

Abrasive Surface Tile. - Floor tile that has been roughened to be slip-resistant.

Abrasive Surface. - A surface that has been roughened for safety or for warning.

Abrasive. - A substance used for wearing, grinding, cleaning, or polishing by rubbing or grinding.

ABS Pipe. - A plastic pipe sold in 10 and 20 foot lengths in various diameters for plumbing stacks and drains; used primarily for drain lines.

ABS. - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene; a plastic used for piping; has high resistance to impact, heat, and chemicals.

Absolute Humidity. - The density of water vapor per unit volume of air.

Absolute Pressure. - The pressure measured by a gauge plus a correction for the effect of air pressure on the gauge (l4.7 psi at sea level).

Absolute Temperature. - Temperature measured from absolute zero.

Absolute Viscosity. - A method of measuring viscosity using the poise as the basic measurement unit; this method utilizes a partial vacuum to induce flow in the viscometer.

Absolute Volume. - The volume of an ingredient in its solid state, without voids between individual pieces or particles; in the case of fluids, the cubic content occupied; in concrete, it is the actual volume occupied by the different ingredients determined by dividing the weight of each ingredient in pounds by its specific gravity times the weight of one cubic foot of water in pounds; example. the absolute volume of one sack of cement equals 94 divided by 3.15 times 62.4 equals 0.478 cubic feet.

Absolute Zero. - A theoretical lowest possible temperature, at which all molecular motion ceases, calculated to be exactly minus 273.15?????????Centigrade or minus 459.67????????? Fahrenheit.

Absorb. - To swallow up or suck in, like wood absorbing a finishing material.