hammocklike

Hammocklike is an adjective used to describe something that resembles a hammock in form or arrangement. Typically this entails a shallow, concave curve suspended between two points, or a surface that sags gently under load. The term is used both literally, for physical objects, and figuratively, to describe shapes, structures, or patterns that evoke a hammock.

Etymology: The word is formed from hammock plus the suffix -like. "Hammock" itself comes from Caribbean languages via English; -like attaches to many English adjectives to indicate resemblance. Hammocklike is common in descriptive or technical writing where precise shape or form is being discussed.

Applications: In engineering and architecture, hammocklike forms appear in suspended membranes, cable nets, or slender arches where the surface adopts a shallow curvature. In geology or geomorphology, a hammocklike profile may describe a surface that curves upward toward its ends. In biology or ecology, the term may describe a curved morphology or a distribution pattern that resembles a hammock, often in a metaphorical sense.

See also: arch, curve, sag, parabola.