finite

- 5 dictionary results

–adjective

having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.

Mathematics.

(of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.

not infinite or infinitesimal.

not zero.

subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature: man's finite existence on earth.

–noun

something that is finite.

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Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L fīnītus, ptp. of fīnīre to stop, limit. See fine¹, -ite²

—Related forms

fi·nite·ly, adverb

fi·nite·ness, noun

non·fi·nite, adjective, noun

non·fi·nite·ly, adverb

non·fi·nite·ness, noun

su·per·fi·nite, adjective

su·per·fi·nite·ly, adverb

su·per·fi·nite·ness, noun

un·fi·nite, adjective

—Synonyms
1. bounded, limited, circumscribed, restricted.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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World English Dictionary

finite (ˈfaɪnaɪt)

—*adj*
1.	bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent: a finite difference
2.	maths, logic denumerable Compare infinite having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural number
3.	a. limited or restricted in nature: human existence is finite
	b. (as noun): the finite
4.	denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense

[C15: from Latin fīnītus limited, from fīnīre to limit, end]

'finitely

—*adv*

'finiteness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin & History

finite

1410, from L. finitus, pp. of finire "to limit, set bounds, end," from finis (see finish).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Science Dictionary

finite (fī'nīt') Pronunciation Key

Relating to a set that cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with any proper subset of its own members.
Relating to or being a numerical quantity describing the size of such a set.
Being a member of the set of real or complex numbers.
Being a quantity that is non-zero and not infinite.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Computing Dictionary