continuous

[kuhn-tin-yoo-uhs]

adjective

1. uninterrupted in time; without cessation.

   continuous coughing during the concert.

2. being in immediate connection or spatial relationship.

   a continuous series of blasts; a continuous row of warehouses.

3. Grammar.,  progressive.

continuous

/ kənˈtɪnjʊəs /

adjective

1. prolonged without interruption; unceasing

   a continuous noise

2. in an unbroken series or pattern

3. maths (of a function or curve) changing gradually in value as the variable changes in value. A function f is continuous if at every value a of the independent variable the difference between f( x ) and f( a ) approaches zero as x approaches a Compare discontinuous See also limit

4. statistics (of a variable) having a continuum of possible values so that its distribution requires integration rather than summation to determine its cumulative probability Compare discrete

5. grammar another word for progressive

continuous

1. Relating to a line or curve that extends without a break or irregularity.

2. A function in which changes, however small, to any x- value result in small changes to the corresponding y- value, without sudden jumps. Technically, a function is continuous at the point c if it meets the following condition: for any positive number ε, however small, there exists a positive number δ such that for all x within the distance δ from c, the value of f (x) will be within the distance ε from f (c). Polynomials, exponential functions, and trigonometric functions are examples of continuous functions.

Usage

Both continual and continuous can be used to say that something continues without interruption, but only continual can correctly be used to say that something keeps happening repeatedly

Confusables Note

See continual.

Other Word Forms

• continuously adverb
• continuousness noun
• noncontinuous adjective
• noncontinuousness noun
• quasi-continuous adjective
• semicontinuous adjective
• uncontinuous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of continuous¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin continuus “uninterrupted,” equivalent to contin(ēre) “to hold together, retain” ( con- con- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”; contain ) + -uus adjective suffix; -ous, contiguous

Word History and Origins

Origin of continuous¹

C17: from Latin continuus, from continēre to hold together, _contain

Example Sentences

In 2019, she became one of five co-founders of Levels, a company offering continuous glucose monitors to people who want to track their blood sugar.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We remain fully confident in the delivery of long-term sustainable growth and continuous financial deleverage,” Chief Executive Simon Hunt said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's this repetitive or continuous threat and existence in a dangerous situation," Jill Trepanier, a hurricane climatology expert at Louisiana State University, told AFP.

Read more on Barron's

Other movements create weaker, continuous vibrations known as tremor.

Read more on Science Daily

This new observation, however, marks the first time scientists have captured evidence of the smaller, constantly present twisting type that may provide continuous energy to the Sun.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• continued 
• endless 
• extended 
• regular 
• repeated 
• stable 
• steady 
• unbroken 
• unceasing 
• uninterrupted