sine

[sahyn]
noun
1.
Trigonometry.
a.
(in a right triangle) the ratio of the side opposite a given acute angle to the hypotenuse.
b.
(of an angle) a trigonometric function equal to the ratio of the ordinate of the end point of the arc to the radius vector of this end point, the origin being at the center of the circle on which the arc lies and the initial point of the arc being on the x-axis. Abbreviation: sin
2.
Geometry. (originally) a perpendicular line drawn from one extremity of an arc of a circle to the diameter that passes through its other extremity.
3.
Mathematics. (of a real or complex number x ) the function sin x defined by the infinite series x − ( x 3 /3!) + ( x 5 /5!) − + …, where ! denotes factorial. Compare cosine ( def 2 ), factorial ( def 1 ).
Origin:
1585–95; < Neo-Latin, Latin sinus a curve, fold, pocket, translation of Arabic jayb literally, pocket, by folk etymology < Sanskrit jiyā, jyā chord of an arc, literally, bowstring

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To sine
00:10
Sine is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
sine1 (saɪn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
sin
 a.  a trigonometric function that in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to that of the hypotenuse
 b.  a function that in a circle centred at the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system is the ratio of the ordinate of a point on the circumference to the radius of the circle
 
[C16: from Latin sinus a bend; in New Latin, sinus was mistaken as a translation of Arabic jiba sine (from Sanskrit jīva, literally: bowstring) because of confusion with Arabic jaib curve]

sine2 (ˈsaɪnɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—prep
(esp in Latin phrases or legal terms) lacking; without

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

sine
trigonometric function, 1593 (in Thomas Fale's "Horologiographia, the Art of Dialling"), from L. sinus "fold in a garment, bend, curve." Used by Gherardo of Cremona c.1150 in M.L. translation of Arabic geometrical text to render Arabic jiba "chord of an arc, sine" (from Skt. jya "bowstring"), which he
confused with jaib "bundle, bosom, fold in a garment."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
sine   (sīn)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. The ratio of the length of the side opposite an acute angle in a right triangle to the length of the hypotenuse.

  2. The ordinate of the endpoint of an arc of a unit circle centered at the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system, the arc being of length x and measured counterclockwise from the point (1, 0) if x is positive or clockwise if x is negative.

  3. A function of a number x, equal to the sine of an angle whose measure in radians is equal to x.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
SINE
sign, that is, operator's personal initials (shortwave transmission)
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Thus, punishing wrong doers is not a sine qua non for ever lasting peace.
The white and yellow sine waves in the sculpture are actually fluorescent
  lights.
Nevertheless, in a free society the right to pursue one's own notions of
  happiness is a sine qua non.
Health, by definition, is the sine qua non of everything else.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT