Utp

/juː tiː piː/ noun

Definition

Unshielded Twisted Pair, a type of cable used in telecommunications and computer networking. Also refers to Uridine Triphosphate in biochemistry.

Etymology

As networking term, acronym formed in the 1980s describing cable construction: 'unshielded' (no metallic shielding), 'twisted pair' (two wires twisted together to reduce interference). In biochemistry, represents the nucleotide uridine triphosphate.

Kelly Says

UTP cable's twisted wire design is a brilliant example of simple physics defeating electrical interference - by twisting wires together, electromagnetic noise affects both equally and cancels out. This same principle that connects your computer to the internet was discovered by telephone engineers over a century ago trying to reduce crosstalk between phone lines.

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