superelevation

[ soo-per-el-uh-vey-shuhn ]

noun

1. bank ¹( def 6 ).

superelevation

/ ˌsuːpərˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. another name for bank 2
2. the difference between the heights of the sides of a road or railway track on a bend

Word History and Origins

Origin of superelevation¹

1645–55, in sense “elevation to a higher rank”; 1885–90 for current sense; super- + elevation

Example Sentences

Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders said earlier this month the company could consider making German free products because of Germany’s “moral superelevation” on arms exports, which was frustrating Britain, France and Spain.

From Reuters

The elevation of the outside rail relative to the inside rail is called superelevation.

From Scientific American

Curves showing Theoretical Superelevation for Various Degrees of Curve for Various Speeds of Vehicle At the intersection of important highways, the problem is complicated by the necessity for providing for through traffic in both directions and for traffic which may turn in either direction and the engineer must provide safe roadways for each class of traffic.

From Project Gutenberg

On account of the variation in speeds of the vehicles, the superelevation for curves on a highway can only be designed to suit the average speed.

From Project Gutenberg

At turns approaching ninety degrees, the curve is likely to be of such short radius that it is impossible to maintain the ordinary road speed around the curve, even with the maximum superelevation permissible.

From Project Gutenberg