| 释义 |
self-ˈacting, ppl. a.
[self- 3 b, 4.]
1. Acting independently, without external impulse or influence. Also applied to motion characterized by such action.
1740Cheyne Regimen 2 A Self-moving, self-acting secondary Agent. 1856Grote Greece ii. xcvii. XII. 612 Self-acting Hellas. 1890A. R. Wallace Darwinism 12 This self-acting process which..brings about change in the organic world.
2. Mech. Acting automatically without the manipulation (or mechanism) which would otherwise be required. Also said of the operation.
1824R. Stuart Hist. Steam Engine 84 The..self-acting mechanism of the Atmospheric Engines. Ibid. 85 Their simultaneous (rather than self-acting) operation. 1834–6Barlow in Encycl. Metrop. (1845) VIII. 175/1 For the prevention of this [the unnecessary destruction of fuel], the self-acting damper has been invented. Ibid. 700/2 The machinery in the self-acting mule. 1869Rankine Cycl. Mach. & Hand-tools Pl. F 3 The self-acting motion is obtained from the lever. Ibid. L 2 Self-acting radial drilling machine. 1875Knight Dict. Mech. s.v., Self-acting Valve, one moved by the fluid, in contradistinction to one moved by the application of mechanical devices. |