simplex
Americanadjective
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simple; consisting of or characterized by a single element.
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pertaining to or noting a telecommunications system permitting communication in only one direction at a time.
noun
plural
simplexes, simplices-
Mathematics. a basic geometric element in a Euclidean space, being a line segment in one dimension, a triangle in two dimensions, a tetrahedron in three dimensions, and so on: used in topology and linear programming.
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an apartment having all the rooms on one floor.
adjective
noun
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linguistics a simple not a compound word
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geometry the most elementary geometric figure in Euclidean space of a given dimension; a line segment in one-dimensional space or a triangle in two-dimensional space
Etymology
Origin of simplex
1585–95; < Latin: having a single layer, literally, one-fold, equivalent to sim-, base meaning “one” (akin to similis similar, Greek hén (neuter) one, homós same ( homo- ), English same ) + -plex -plex
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2020, as in other military towns across the U.S., rates of sexually transmitted infections like syphilis, herpes simplex and HIV are among the highest in the country.
From Salon • Jul. 20, 2025
"It is exciting that the results confirm previous studies. More and more evidence is emerging from studies that, like our findings, point to the herpes simplex virus as a risk factor for dementia," continues Vestin.
From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2024
The viruses—usually benign varieties such as the herpes simplex viruses and adenoviruses that are often modified to make them safer and more potent—can reproduce in tumor cells but not in healthy cells.
From Science Magazine • Dec. 4, 2023
Deaths caused by HSV-1 - herpes simplex 1 - are almost unheard of in healthy people.
From BBC • Jul. 26, 2023
Hueter in pure cases of purulent infection without metastasis calls the disease pyoh�mia simplex; in cases with metastasis, pyoh�mia multiplex; and when complicated with septic�mia he designates it as septo-pyoh�mia.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
