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incidence

 - 6 dictionary results

in⋅ci⋅dence

[in-si-duhns]
–noun
1. the rate or range of occurrence or influence of something, esp. of something unwanted: the high incidence of heart disease in men over 40.
2. a falling upon, affecting, or befalling; occurrence: The incidence of murder that Sunday afternoon shocked the sleepy village.
3. Optics, Physics.
a. the striking of a ray of light, beam of electrons, etc., on a surface, or the direction of striking.
b. angle of incidence (def. 1).
4. the fact or the manner of being incident.
5. Geometry. partial coincidence of two figures, as of a line and a plane containing it.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < LL incidentia. See incident, -ence

angle of incidence

–noun
1. Also called incidence. Optics, Physics. the angle that a straight line, ray of light, etc., meeting a surface, makes with a normal to the surface at the point of meeting.
2. (on an airplane) the angle, usually fixed, between a wing or tail root chord and the axis of the fuselage.
3. Chiefly British. angle of attack (def. 1).

Origin:
1620–30
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To incidence
in·ci·dence   (ĭn'sĭ-dəns)   
n.  
  1. The act or an instance of happening; occurrence: did not expect criticism and was surprised by its incidence.

  2. Extent or frequency of occurrence: a high incidence of malaria in the tropics.

  3. Physics

    1. The arrival of radiation or a projectile at a surface.

    2. Angle of incidence.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: angle of incidence
Function: noun
: the angle that a line (as a ray of light) falling on a surface or interface makes with the normal drawn at the point ofincidence

Main Entry: in·ci·dence
Pronunciation: 'in(t)-s&d-&n(t)s, -s&-"den(t)s
Function: noun
1 a : ANGLE OF INCIDENCE b : the arrival of something (as a ray of light) at a surface
2 a : an act or the fact or manner of occurring or affecting incidence —Science> b : rate of occurrence or influence;especially : the rate of occurrence of new cases of a particular disease in a population being studied —compare PREVALENCE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

incidence in·ci·dence (ĭn'sĭ-dəns)
n.

  1. The extent or rate of occurrence, especially the number of new cases of a disease in a population over a period of time.

  2. The arrival of radiation or a projectile at a surface.


in'ci·dent adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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