spline

1. 1. Any of a series of projections on a shaft that fit into slots on a corresponding shaft, enabling both to rotate together.
   2. The groove or slot for such a projection.
2. A flexible piece of wood, hard rubber, or metal used in drawing curves.
3. A wooden or metal strip; a slat.

[Origin unknown.]

A set of polynomials, one for each sub-interval, that give an approximation to the function f(x), defined on some interval a ≤ x ≤ b where a=x₀ < x₁ <...< x_n=b is a subdivision of the interval a ≤ x ≤ b. The polynomials are all of the same degree, d, and are chosen so that the values of the polynomials and their first (d − 1) derivatives are continuous at the intermediate points of subdivision and the values of the polynomials agree with the value of f at each of the points.

In computer graphics, a smooth curve that runs through a series of given points. The term is often used to refer to any curve, because long before computers, a spline was a flat, pliable strip of wood or metal that was bent into a desired shape for drawing curves on paper. See Bezier and B-spline.

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1. A long thin strip of wood or metal which is inserted in a slot formed by two members, each of which is grooved and butted against the other.
2. In a suspended acoustical ceiling, a strip of metal or hard fiber inserted in the slot between adjacent acoustical tiles which butt against each other, forming a concealed mechanical joint.

spline, 1

spline, 2

Look up spline in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Spline can refer to:

• Flat spline, a device to draw curves
• Rotating spline, a mating mechanism on a driveshaft
• Spline (mathematics), a mathematical function used for interpolation or smoothing
• Spline cord, a type of thin rubber cord used to secure a window screen to its frame
• Spline (alien beings)

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