| 释义 |
modular, a.|ˈmɒdjʊlə(r)|
[ad. mod.L. modulār-is (or F. modulaire), f. L. modul-us: see modulus and -ar1.]
1. a. Arch. Of or pertaining to a module or modulus (see module 4).
1842Gwilt Archit. Gloss., Modular Proportion, that which is regulated by a module.
b. Employing or involving a module or modules (module n. 4 d, e, f) as the basis of design or construction; designed as part of such a system.
1936Bemis & Burchard Evolving House III. iv. 64 Cubical modular design..simply requires that all parts of the house..be proportioned to the same module in all three dimensions. 1945Archit. Rec. Jan. 102/2 The modular system does not necessarily involve making every product come out to even multiples of 4 inches... The system does suggest, however, that the 4-in. unit be considered as an increment wherever possible. 1956W. H. Whyte Organization Man (1957) 398 Modular construction is a condition of moderate-cost housing. 1960House & Garden Dec. 31/1 As the houses are based on modular units, it is relatively simple to add a wing. 1966B. J. Karafin in Kuo & Kaiser System Analysis by Digital Computer viii. 306 Modular programming makes it possible to build a library of simulation modules in much the same way as a library of numerical function subroutines is built. 1967M. Goldring Modular Directory Building Components p. ix, The term ‘modular components’ covers those components that have at least two of their co-ordinating dimensions, such as length and width, in whole multiples of the basic 4 in/100 mm module. 1969W. V. Tipping Introd. Mech. Assembly ix. 217 The length of the machine obviously could, by the modular construction, be varied to within 30 in. Making the machine one sided only was considered but finally it was agreed to use a double sided module to keep down the length of the machine. 1970Washington Post 30 Sept. B.1/1 The adjustable, modular-unit, wall-hung bookcase systems. 1970[see module n. 4 d]. 1971Engineering Apr. 71/1 Based on a modular construction, Denco floor consists of timber panels supported by jacks..at 610 mm or 600 mm..centres over the sub-floor... A..steel Tee section is screwed to the perimeters of the underside of each module to fix and support it on the jackheads. 1972House & Garden June 76/1 So-called portable houses—modular prefabs—which come on a truck and get erected within several hours. 1973Computers & Humanities VII. 144 This program is modular in design, that is, it consists of several steps each doing a simple task.
c. spec. Of an educational course: designed as a series of units or discrete sections. Cf. module n. 4 g.
1968Economist 25 May 18/2 The board has developed proposals both for the retraining of adults for skilled jobs, and for a so-called ‘modular’ scheme of training for young entrants to industry. 1972Timber Trades Jrnl. 3 June 41/1 The courses would be modular, so that a company could send people in to be trained in any particular aspect. 1972Accountant 19 Oct. 483/1 Much ingenuity has, however, been used by public sector institutions, and they have succeeded wherever possible in providing oral tuition on a modular basis, so that students of different bodies are able to share studies.
2. Math. Of or pertaining to a modulus.
1798Hutton Course Math. (1828) II. 415 If W were the greatest load which a modular wall, or column, could carry. 1815― Philos. & Math. Dict. (new ed.) II. 60 Modular Ratio, a term invented by Mr. Cotes, to denote the ratio or number whose logarithm is what he calls the modulus [tr. ratio modularis, R. Cotes Harmonia Mensurarum (1722) p. 5]. 1843MacCullagh in Proc. R. Irish Acad. II. 453–4 It may happen that only one of them [sc. the curves] can be used in the generation of the surface by the modular method, as the method of which we are treating may be called, from its employment of the modulus. A focal curve which can be so used shall be distinguished as a modular focal. 1845De Morgan in Encycl. Metrop. II. 385/1 Taking, therefore, ϕ a solution of the modular equation, which makes the above-mentioned equations consistent. 1862Salmon Anal. Geom. Three Dimens. 109 Professor MacCullagh calls the ratio of the focal distance to that from the directrix, the modulus of the surface, and the foci having imaginary planes of contact he calls modular foci. a1883H. J. S. Smith Collect. Math. Papers (1894) II. 560 The Modular Curves of an Uneven Order. 1894Forsyth Theory of Functions 633 The general definition of a modular function is that it is a uniform function such that an algebraical equation subsists between ψ⎜ αω + β / γω + δ ⎟ and ψ(ω), where α, β, γ, δ, are integers subject to the relation αδ - βγ = 1.
Add:[1.] d. Of a facility, service, system, etc.: divided into a number of discrete stages.
1984Times 24 May 3/1 British Rail's hot meals go ‘modular’ over the next five years. Food for lunch and dinner will be prepared ‘ashore’, chilled and stored, then heated in microwave ovens in the restaurant car. 1987Grand Rapids Business Jrnl. 17 Aug. b6/3 The more difficult patients are handled in TRAC III Rehabilitation, modular rehabilitation services for the complex patient with chronic pain. 1993Computing 21 Oct. 48/1 The next generation of operating systems will be written as microkernels, which promise users the benefits of a highly modular operating system well adapted to the needs of distributed computing.
B. n. Chiefly U.S. The adj. (sense 1 b) used absol.
1969Automation in Housing Aug. 61/2 A two-section modular, the home includes kitchen, bathroom, toilet facility, laundry room and five rooms for sleeping, eating and living in its well-organized plan. 1983Motor Trend Jan. 76/1 At the opposite end of the scale are the high-zoot modulars—racing wheels, really. 1994Hartford Courant (ed. 3) b2/5 The connector was intended to provide students with some protection from the weather as they moved between the new modulars and the main school building. |