ASYMPTOTE Definition & Meaning

asymptote

[as-im-toht]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Mathematics.

a straight line approached by a given curve as one of the variables in the equation of the curve approaches infinity.

asymptote

/ ˈæ��ɪ��ˌ��əʊ�� /

noun

a straight line that is closely approached by a plane curve so that the perpendicular distance between them decreases to zero as the distance from the origin increases to infinity

asymptote

A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of asymptote¹

1650–60; < Greek ��ý��ō�ٴǲ�, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + ��ý��ō�ٴǲ� falling together ( sym- sym- + ��ō��ó�� falling, derivative of ��ō-, variant stem of ��í��ٱ𾱲� to fall + -tos verbid suffix)

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of asymptote¹

C17: from Greek ��ܳ��ō�ٴǲ� not falling together, from _a- ¹ + _syn- + ��ō�ٴǲ� inclined to fall, from piptein to fall

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Hynes’s genius is the way he keeps the anxiety fueled by 9/11 in the margins until the story finally hurtles us down the asymptote of terror.

From

The important question is the value of the effort, and whether it leaves us separated by an asymptote or a chasm.

From

His Funkle Asymptote is defined as an asymptote that has transcendental slope.

From

It’s like an asymptote, moving toward but never arriving at the point of convergence.

From

The curve tends toward positive or negative infinity, always approaching the asymptote but never reaching it.

From

asymptomatic asymptotic

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