The curve formed by a perfectly flexible, uniformly dense, and inextensible cable suspended from its endpoints. It is identical to the graph of a hyperbolic cosine.
Something having the general shape of this curve.
Related Forms:
catˈe·narˌy adjective
(click for a larger image)
catenary
the equation for this catenary in rectangular coordinates, with a as the y-intercept is: y = ( a/2 ) (ex/a+ e-x/a)