spline

Meanings

Plural: splines

Noun

a flexible strip (wood or rubber) used in drawing curved lines
a thin strip (wood or metal)
A long, thin piece of metal or wood.
A strip of wood or other material inserted into grooves in each of two pieces of wood to provide additional surface for gluing.
A flexible strip of metal or other material, that may be bent into a curve and used in a similar manner to a ruler to draw smooth curves between points.
Any of a number of smooth curves used to join points.
A ridge or tooth on a drive shaft that meshes with a corresponding groove in a mating piece and transfers torque to it, maintaining the angular correspondence between the pieces; either the ridge or the groove, as part of a set of both (splines); the whole set of ridges and grooves.
A rectangular piece that fits grooves like key seats in a hub and a shaft, so that while the one may slide endwise on the other, both must revolve together.

Verb

To smooth (a curve or surface) by means of a spline.
To fit with a spline.
To fasten to or together with a spline.

Origin / Etymology

Mid-1700s East Anglian dialect. Origin uncertain but perhaps from Old Danish splind or North Frisian splinj and ultimately related to the root of splinter.

Synonyms

slat

Scrabble Score: 8

spline is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
spline is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
spline is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

spline is a valid Words With Friends word