Definition

1. Noun (Proper):
   • A programming language: A high-level computer programming language designed by Niklaus Wirth to teach programming concepts using a structured, top-down, and modular approach. It emphasizes clear, logical program structure.
   • A person (Blaise Pascal): A French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and writer. He made significant contributions to the study of fluids, probability theory, and invented an early mechanical calculator. He was also a central figure in Jansenism.
   • A unit of pressure: The SI derived unit of pressure (symbol: Pa). It is defined as one newton of force per square meter (N/m²). It is a very small unit of pressure.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Programming Language):

  • The introductory computer science course uses Pascal to teach fundamental algorithms.
  • Many early personal computers came with a Pascal compiler.

• Noun (Person):

  • Blaise Pascal conducted experiments that demonstrated the weight of the atmosphere.
  • Pascal's Wager is a philosophical argument presented in his *Pensées.*

• Noun (Unit of Measurement):

  • Standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 101,325 pascals.
  • The tire pressure was measured as 220,000 pascals.

Advanced Usage

• "Pascal's Law" or "Pascal's Principle": A principle in fluid mechanics stating that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished to every portion of the fluid and the walls of its container.

  • Hydraulic systems operate based on Pascal's Law.

• "Pascal's Triangle": A triangular array of numbers where each number is the sum of the two numbers directly above it, with applications in algebra and probability.

  • The coefficients for the binomial expansion can be found using Pascal's Triangle.

Variants and Related Words

• Pascalian (adj): Relating to or characteristic of Blaise Pascal or his works.

  • The writer's Pascalian reflections on faith and reason were profound.

• Object Pascal: An extension of the Pascal programming language that incorporates object-oriented features.

  • Delphi uses a dialect of Object Pascal.

Synonyms

• For the unit: There is no direct synonym, but it is a specific unit within the category of pressure units (e.g., bar, psi, atmosphere).
• For the person: None (proper noun).
• For the language: None (proper noun).

Related Phrases

• Pascal case: A naming convention in programming where a compound word is written with the first letter of each word capitalized (e.g., ). This is distinct from the language itself but derives from the naming style used in Pascal code.
  • Use Pascal case when naming classes in your program.

Related Idioms

• "A pascal of pressure": This is not a standard idiom. The unit is typically used in straightforward technical contexts. However, one might use it metaphorically to indicate a very small amount of force or influence.
  • His argument didn't exert a pascal of pressure on their decision. (Figurative, non-standard usage)

Noun

1. a programing language designed to teach programming through a top-down modular approach
2. French mathematician and philosopher and Jansenist; invented an adding machine; contributed (with Fermat) to the theory of probability (1623-1662)
3. a unit of pressure equal to one newton per square meter