manifold
MAN-ih-fold
/ˈmænɪfoʊld/
A pipe or chamber branching into several openings, used to distribute or collect gases or liquids.
In a car, you have an 'intake manifold' (brings air in) and an 'exhaust manifold' (takes waste gases out).
The story behind the word. From Old English 'manig' (many) + 'feald' (fold). It originally described something folded many times. In the 1800s, it was applied to pipes that have 'many' branches 'folding' into one main pipe.
Word relationships
- header: In racing, 'headers' are high-performance versions of an exhaust manifold.
Commonly confused with
- manifest: Manifest means obvious or a list of cargo; manifold means many-branched.
Collocations
- exhaust manifold
- intake manifold
- manifold pressure
Example sentences
- "A crack in the exhaust manifold caused a loud ticking noise and allowed dangerous fumes to leak into the engine bay." Engine repair.
- "The intake manifold must be designed to ensure equal air distribution to every cylinder." Fluid dynamics.
Memory hook
A manifold has 'many' 'folds' (branches). Manifold = Many pipes in one.
When not to use
In a literary sense, it means 'many and various.' Don't confuse the two in technical writing.
Fun facts
- In mathematics, a 'manifold' is a topological space that looks like Euclidean space near each point.
- Exhaust manifolds are often made of cast iron because they have to survive temperatures over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Related words
Also appears in
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