Duplex

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
duplex
    adj 1: (used technically of a device or process) having two
           parts; "a duplex transaction"
    2: allowing communication in opposite directions simultaneously;
       "duplex system"; "duplex telephony"
    n 1: a house with two units sharing a common wall [syn: {duplex
         house}, {duplex}, {semidetached house}]
    2: an apartment having rooms on two floors that are connected by
       a staircase [syn: {duplex apartment}, {duplex}]
    v 1: change into a duplex
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Duplex \Du"plex\, a. [L., fr. duo two + plicare to fold. See
   {Two}, and {Complex}.]
   1. Double; twofold.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Computers) organized so that data may be transmitted in
      two opposite directions over the same channel; -- of
      communications channels, such as data transfer lines
      between computers.
      [PJC]

   {Duplex escapement}, a peculiar kind of watch escapement, in
      which the scape-wheel has two sets of teeth. See
      {Escapement}.

   {Duplex lathe}, one for turning off, screwing, and surfacing,
      by means of two cutting tools, on opposite sides of the
      piece operated upon.

   {Duplex pumping engine}, a steam pump in which two steam
      cylinders are placed side by side, one operating the
      valves of the other.

   {Duplex querela} [L., double complaint] (Eccl. Law), a
      complaint in the nature of an appeal from the ordinary to
      his immediate superior, as from a bishop to an archbishop.
      --Mozley & W.

   {Duplex telegraphy}, a system of telegraphy for sending two
      messages over the same wire simultaneously.

   {Duplex watch}, one with a duplex escapement.

   {half duplex} (Computers)
      (a) arranged so that the information may be transmitted in
          both directions, but only in one direction at a time;
          -- of communications channels between computers;
          contrasted with {full duplex(a)}.
      (b) arranged so that the information transmitted to the
          remote computer also appears on the local terminal; --
          of communications channels between computers;
          contrasted with {full duplex(b)}.

   {full duplex}, (Computers)
      (a) arranged so that the information may be transmitted in
          both directions simultaneously; -- of communications
          channels between computers; contrasted with {half
          duplex(a)}.
      (b) arranged so that the information transmitted to the
          remote computer does not appear on the local terminal;
          -- of communications channels between computers;
          contrasted with {half duplex(b)}.
          [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Duplex \Du"plex\, v. t. [See {Duplex}, a.] (Teleg.)
   To arrange, as a telegraph line, so that two messages may be
   transmitted simultaneously; to equip with a duplex
   telegraphic outfit.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
duplex \du"plex\, n. [See {Duplex}, a.]
   1. something which is duplex; -- used mostly in reference to
      a living unit, such as an apartment, in a building having
      two similar living units.
      [PJC]

   2. (Biology, Genetics) a double-stranded region in a nucleic
      acid molecule. See {deoxyribonucleic acid}.
      [PJC]
    
from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
duplex

   <communications> Used to describe a communications channel
   that can carry signals in both directions, in contrast to a
   {simplex} channel which only ever carries a signal in one
   direction.

   If signals can only flow in one direction at a time the
   communications is "{half-duplex}", like a single-lane road with
   traffic lights at each end.  Walkie-talkies with a
   "press-to-talk" button provide half-duplex communications.

   If signals can flow in both directions simultaneously the
   communications is "{full-duplex}", like a normal two-lane
   road.  Telephones provide full-duplex communications.

   The term "duplex" was first used in wireless, telegraph, and
   telephone communications.  Nearly all communications circuits
   used by computers are two-way, so the term is seldom used.

   (http://cit.ac.nz/smac/dc100www/dc_014.htm).

   (2001-07-21)
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
49 Moby Thesaurus words for "duplex":
      Janus-like, ambidextrous, apartment house, bifacial, bifold,
      biform, bifurcated, bilateral, binary, binate, biparous,
      bipartisan, bipartite, bivalent, condominium, conduplicate,
      cooperative apartment house, dichotomous, disomatous, double,
      double-barreled, double-faced, duadic, dual, dualistic, duple,
      duplex house, duplicate, duplicated, dyadic, flats, geminate,
      geminated, high-rise apartment building, identical, matched,
      second, secondary, tenement, twain, twin, twinned, two, two-faced,
      two-level, two-ply, two-sided, two-story, twofold

    

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