Noun
/lɒŋˈɪtʃʊdɪnəl ˈsliːpər/
A longitudinal sleeper refers to a type of railway sleeper (or tie) that runs parallel to the direction of the track. It serves as a structural component that supports the rails and helps maintain gauge stability and track alignment. The term is not commonly used in everyday conversation and is primarily found in written texts related to civil engineering, transportation infrastructure, and railway construction.
In terms of frequency, "longitudinal sleeper" is used more often in written contexts, such as technical papers, engineering publications, and industry standards, rather than in oral speech.
The engineers decided to implement longitudinal sleepers for improved track stability.
Los ingenieros decidieron implementar durmientes longitudinales para mejorar la estabilidad de la vía.
In many modern railway projects, the use of longitudinal sleepers is becoming increasingly common.
En muchos proyectos ferroviarios modernos, el uso de durmientes longitudinales se está volviendo cada vez más común.
Longitudinal sleepers can reduce the maintenance costs of railway lines significantly.
Los durmientes longitudinales pueden reducir significativamente los costos de mantenimiento de las líneas ferroviarias.
While "longitudinal sleeper" itself is not commonly found in idiomatic expressions, the word "sleeper" is found in various phrases. Below are some examples:
A sleeper hit can often surprise the critics and gain fame unexpectedly.
Un éxito inesperado puede a menudo sorprender a los críticos y ganar fama inesperadamente.
The movie was a sleeper; it started out slow but eventually gained a huge following.
La película fue un éxito inesperado; comenzó lentamente pero eventualmente ganó un gran número de seguidores.
Don’t underestimate that forgotten book; it’s a sleeper that offers incredible insights.
No subestimes ese libro olvidado; es un éxito inesperado que ofrece ideas increíbles.
The term “sleeper” originates from the old English word “slepe,” which meant "to sleep." In a railway context, it refers to the support that holds the rails, akin to a bed where something (the train) rests, thus metaphorically alluding to "sleep."
Synonyms: Tie, rail support, sleeper beam
Antonyms: N/A (As a specific term in railway terminology, it does not have direct antonyms)
The term "longitudinal sleeper" is specialized and relates to railway infrastructure, highlighting the importance of structural elements in transportation systems. While it doesn’t have the broad idiomatic usage of the word “sleeper,” which denotes underestimated successes in various forms of media, it is crucial in its context.