Groove

Origin

Middle English grove pit, cave, from Middle Dutch groeve; akin to Old High German gruoba pit, cave, Old English grafan to dig

• 1659

Definitions

• 1: a long narrow channel or depression
• 2a : a fixed routine : rut

b : a situation suited to one's abilities or interests : niche

• 3: top form <a great talker when he is in the groove>
• 4: the middle of the strike zone in baseball where a pitch is most easily hit <a fastball right in the groove>
• 5: an enjoyable or exciting experience
• 6: a pronounced enjoyable rhythm

Description

In manufacturing or mechanical engineering a groove is a long and narrow indentation built into a material, generally for the purpose of allowing another material or part to move within the groove and be guided by it. Examples include:

• A canal cut in a hard material, usually metal. This canal can be round, oval or an arc in order to receive another component such as a boss, a tongue or a gasket. It can also be on the circumference of a dowel, a bolt, an axle or on the outside or inside of a tube or pipe etc. This canal may receive a circlip an o-ring or a gasket.
• A depression on the entire circumference of a cast or machined wheel, a pulley or sheave. This depression may receive a cable, a rope or a belt.
• A longitudinal channel formed in a hot rolled rail profile such as a grooved rail. This groove is for the flange on a train wheel.