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ball-and-socket joint

ball-and-socket joint

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

ball-and-socket joint in engineering, mechanical connection used between parts that must be allowed some relative angular motion in nearly all directions. As the name implies, the joint consists essentially of a spherical knob at the end of a shaft, with the knob fitting securely into a mating socket. Like other mechanical joints, a ball-and-socket joint must have some provision for lubrication and is normally provided with a seal to prevent loss of the lubricant. Joints of this type are commonly used in mounting the front wheels of automobiles, allowing these wheels movement sufficient for steering. In this application they are usually called ball joints.

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ball-and-socket joint

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

ball-and-sock·et joint • n. a natural or manufactured joint or coupling, such as the hip joint, in which a partially spherical end lies in a socket, allowing multidirectional movement and rotation.

ball-and-socket joint
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ball-and-socket joint

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

ball-and-socket joint (bawl-ănd-sok-it) n. see enarthrosis.
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ball-and-socket joint. (Image by Produnis, GFDL)

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