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Term Definition
D Cracking. The progressive formation on a concrete surface of a series of fine cracks at rather close intervals, often of random patterns, but in slabs on grade paralleling edges, joints, and cracks and usually curving across slab corners; also called D-Cracks and D-Line cracks.  
D Cracks. See D Cracking.  
D Line Cracks. See D Cracking.  
D Load. A constant load that in structures is due to the mass of the members, the supported structure, and permanent attachments or accessories.  
D&M. Dressed and Matched.  
Dado (pl. Dadoes). 1. Part of a column base. 2. The lower part of an interior wall when differently surfaced. 3. A groove in a piece of wood made by dadoing.  
Dado Joint. A joint in which one piece is grooved to receive the piece which forms the other part of the joint.  
Dairy. A building or room for the storage, processing, or sales of milk and milk products.  
Dalton’s Law. Vapor pressure created in a container by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of individual vapor pressures of the gases contained in mixture.  
Damages. 1. Injuries. 2. An amount of money awarded to a plaintiff to compensate for loss caused by the wrongful conduct of a defendant.  
Dammar. A natural resin used extensively in the preparation of varnishes and lacquers; usually classified according to the place from which it is shipped to market, for example, Singapore dammar or Batavia dammar.  
Damp Check. See Damp Course.  
Damp Course. A course or layer of impervious material which prevents capillary entrance of moisture from the ground or a lower course; also called Damp Check.  
Damp Location. A location subject to a moderate degree of moisture, such as some basements, some barns, some cold storage warehouses, and the like.  
Damper. A flap to control or obstruct the flow of air or other gasses; specifically, a metal control flap in the throat of a fireplace, or in an air duct; controls that vary airflow through an air outlet, inlet, or duct; a damper position may be immovable, manually adjustable, or part of an automated control system.  
Damping. 1. Dissipation of structure-borne noise by conversion to some other form of energy, usually heat; usually accomplished by using a material with a high internal energy-absorbing capacity. 2. A rate at which natural vibration decays as a result of absorption of energy.  
Dampproofing. The treatment of concrete or mortar to help prevent the passage or absorption of water in the absence of hydrostatic pressure; not necessarily waterproof.  
Dap. To cut and form a recess in timber to form a dapped joint; also called a let-in joint, as where 1" x 6" diagonal bracing is cut into 2" x 4" studs.  
Darby. 1. A hand-manipulated straightedge, usually 3 to 8 feet. (1 to 2.5 m) long, used in the leveling operation of the early stage of concrete placement, preceding supplemental floating and finishing. 2. A stiff straightedge, about 4 inches wide and 42 inches long with handles, of wood or metal, used to level the surface of wet plaster.  
Darkroom Dryer. A mechanical drying device used by a photographer in a darkroom to dry prints.  
Darkroom Equipment. Equipment used for the developing of photographs.  
Darkroom Sink. A basin in a photographic darkroom for the dispensing or holding of liquids.  
Darkroom. A room for photographic work, with normal light excluded.  
Dash Bond Coat. A thick slurry of portland cement, sand, and water flicked on surfaces with a paddle or brush to provide a base for subsequent portland cement plaster coats; sometimes used as a final finish on plaster.  
Dash Brush. A long-bristled brush for flinging a plaster mixture on the wall as a dash coat.  
Datum. 1. The fixed starting point for surveying or measuring. 2. A piece of information.  
Daub. A glob of adhesive.  
Daylight. A painting defect where there is a lack of coverage of a coat of paint.  
Daylighting. Illuminating the interior of a building by natural means.  
Days. Calendar days are consecutive days on the calendar; working days are calendar days less non-working days such as week ends and holidays.  

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