TANTALUS CUP
\tˈantaləs kˈʌp], \tˈantaləs kˈʌp], \t_ˈa_n_t_a_l_ə_s k_ˈʌ_p]\
Sort: Oldest first
-
A philosophical toy, consisting of a siphon so adapted to a cup that the short leg being in the cup, the long leg may go down through the bottom of it. The siphon is concealed within the figure of a man, whose chin is on a level with the bend of the siphon. Hence, as soon as the water rises up to the chin of the image it begins to subside, so that the figure, like Tantalus in the fable, is unable to quench his thirst.
By Daniel Lyons
Word of the day
machine language
- a programming language designed for use on specific class of computers a set of instructions coded so that the computer can use it directly without further translation Programmed language directly understood and executed by a machine, typically computer. Requires no conversion or translation. English-like languages, known also as high level are industry-renown: Basic, C, Java, the like. These coded programs, then converted into machine language, low an assembler, compiler, interpreter. It is different for each type of CPU, often having unique operation sets. in native binary comprised only two characters: 0 1. difficult to read, less likely humans.