Funambulate
(Fu*nam"bu*late) v. i. [See Funambulo.] To walk or to dance on a rope.
Funambulation
(Fu*nam"bu*la`tion) n. Ropedancing.
Funambulatory
(Fu*nam"bu*la`to*ry) a.
1. Performing like a ropedancer. Chambers.
2. Narrow, like the walk of a ropedancer.
This funambulatory track.
Sir T. Browne. Funambulist
(Fu*nam"bu*list) n. A ropewalker or ropedancer.
Funambulo
(||Fu*nam"bu*lo ||Fu*nam"bu*lus) n. [Sp. funambulo, or It. funambolo, fr. L. funambulus; funis
rope (perh. akin to E. bind) + ambulare to walk. See Amble, and cf. Funambulist.] A ropewalker or
ropedancer. [Obs.] Bacon.
Function
(Func"tion) n. [L. functio, fr. fungi to perform, execute, akin to Skr. bhuj to enjoy, have the
use of: cf. F. fonction. Cf. Defunct.]
1. The act of executing or performing any duty, office, or calling; performance. "In the function of his
public calling." Swift.
2. (Physiol.) The appropriate action of any special organ or part of an animal or vegetable organism; as,
the function of the heart or the limbs; the function of leaves, sap, roots, etc.; life is the sum of the functions
of the various organs and parts of the body.
3. The natural or assigned action of any power or faculty, as of the soul, or of the intellect; the exertion
of an energy of some determinate kind.
As the mind opens, and its functions spread.
Pope. 4. The course of action which peculiarly pertains to any public officer in church or state; the activity appropriate
to any business or profession.
Tradesmen . . . going about their functions.
Shak.
The malady which made him incapable of performing his
regal functions.
Macaulay. 5. (Math.) A quantity so connected with another quantity, that if any alteration be made in the latter
there will be a consequent alteration in the former. Each quantity is said to be a function of the other.
Thus, the circumference of a circle is a function of the diameter. If x be a symbol to which different
numerical values can be assigned, such expressions as x2, 3x, Log. x, and Sin. x, are all functions
of x.
Algebraic function, a quantity whose connection with the variable is expressed by an equation that
involves only the algebraic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, raising to a given
power, and extracting a given root; — opposed to transcendental function. — Arbitrary function. See
under Arbitrary. — Calculus of functions. See under Calculus. — Carnot's function (Thermo-
dynamics), a relation between the amount of heat given off by a source of heat, and the work which
