equation

[ ih-kwey-zhuhn, -shuhn ]
See synonyms for equation on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the act of equating or making equal; equalization: the symbolic equation of darkness with death.

  2. equally balanced state; equilibrium.

  1. Mathematics. an expression or a proposition, often algebraic, asserting the equality of two quantities.

  2. Also called chemical equation .Chemistry. a symbolic representation showing the kind and amount of the starting materials and products of a reaction.

Origin of equation

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin aequātiōn- (stem of aequātiō) an equalizing. See equate, -ion

Other words from equation

  • non·e·qua·tion, noun

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

How to use equation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for equation

equation

/ (ɪˈkweɪʒən, -ʃən) /


noun
  1. a mathematical statement that two expressions are equal: it is either an identity in which the variables can assume any value, or a conditional equation in which the variables have only certain values (roots)

  2. the act of regarding as equal; equating

  1. the act of making equal or balanced; equalization

  2. a situation, esp one regarded as having a number of conflicting elements: what you want doesn't come into the equation

  3. the state of being equal, equivalent, or equally balanced

  4. a situation or problem in which a number of factors need to be considered

  5. astronomy See personal equation

Derived forms of equation

  • equational, adjective
  • equationally, adverb

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

Scientific definitions for equation

equation

[ ĭ-kwāzhən ]


  1. Mathematics A written statement indicating the equality of two expressions. It consists of a sequence of symbols that is split into left and right sides joined by an equal sign. For example, 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 is an equation.

  2. Chemistry A written representation of a chemical reaction, in which the symbols and amounts of the reactants are separated from those of the products by an equal sign, arrow, or a set of opposing arrows. For example, Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4 = CaSO4 + 2H2O, is an equation.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for equation

equation

An expression of equality between two formulas in mathematics. The two formulas are written with an equal sign between them: 2 + 2 = 4 is an equation, as is E = mc2.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.