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sine

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sine

  [sahyn]
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–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 − (x3/3!) + (x5/5!) − + …, where ! denotes factorial. Compare cosine (def. 2), factorial (def. 1).
Origin:
1585–95; < NL, L sinus a curve, fold, pocket, trans. of Ar jayb lit., pocket, by folk etym. < Skt jiyā, jyā chord of an arc, lit., bowstring
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sine   (sīn)   


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n.   Abbr. sin

  1. 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.

  2. In a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the side opposite an acute angle to the length of the hypotenuse.


[Medieval Latin sinus (mistranslation of Arabic jayb, sine, as if jayb, fold in a garment), from Latin, curve, fold.]
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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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. jiva "bowstring"), which he confused with jaib "bundle, bosom, fold in a garment."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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.
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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.
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