discrete

[ dih-skreet ]
See synonyms for discrete on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. apart or detached from others; separate; distinct: six discrete parts.

  2. consisting of or characterized by distinct or individual parts; discontinuous.

  1. Mathematics.

    • (of a topology or topological space) having the property that every subset is an open set.

    • defined only for an isolated set of points: a discrete variable.

    • using only arithmetic and algebra; not involving calculus: discrete methods.

Origin of discrete

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin discrētus separated; see discreet

Other words for discrete

Other words from discrete

  • dis·crete·ly, adverb
  • dis·crete·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with discrete

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for discrete

discrete

/ (dɪsˈkriːt) /


adjective
  1. separate or distinct in form or concept

  2. consisting of distinct or separate parts

  1. statistics

    • (of a variable) having consecutive values that are not infinitesimally close, so that its analysis requires summation rather than integration

    • (of a distribution) relating to a discrete variable: Compare continuous (def. 4)

Origin of discrete

1
C14: from Latin discrētus separated, set apart; see discreet

confusable For discrete

Avoid confusion with discreet

Derived forms of discrete

  • discretely, adverb
  • discreteness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012