topology

Rarely a·nal·y·sis si·tus

[tuh-pol-uh-jee]

noun

Mathematics.

plural

topologies 

1. the study of those properties of geometric forms that remain invariant under certain transformations, as bending or stretching.

2. Also called point set topology. the study of limits in sets considered as collections of points.

3. a collection of open sets making a given set a topological space.

topology

/ ˌtɒpəˈlɒdʒɪk, təˈpɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of mathematics concerned with generalization of the concepts of continuity, limit, etc

2. Former name: analysis situs. a branch of geometry describing the properties of a figure that are unaffected by continuous distortion, such as stretching or knotting

3. maths a family of subsets of a given set S, such that S is a topological space

4. the arrangement and interlinking of computers in a computer network

5. the study of the topography of a given place, esp as far as it reflects its history

6. the anatomy of any specific bodily area, structure, or part

topology

1. The mathematical study of the geometric properties that are not normally affected by changes in the size or shape of geometric figures. In topology, a donut and a coffee cup with a handle are equivalent shapes, because each has a single hole.

Other Word Forms

• topologic adjective
• topological adjective
• topologically adverb
• topologist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of topology¹

First recorded in 1650–60; topo- + -logy

Example Sentences

“It just gets me better familiar with the Greater Los Angeles topology,” she said.

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A tiny sliver representing accessory dwelling units has appeared in the last decade, part of a shift in housing topology that is just beginning.

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Cal Fire’s model instead accounts for the vegetation type, topology, climate and weather for wildland areas to calculate the probability of an area burning and the likely intensity of the blaze.

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These principles are governed by the nuanced interplay of stitch patterns, geometry, and yarn topology -- the undercrossings or overcrossings in a knot or stitch.

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"Qin and I showed that using topology," Palmerduca said, "we can modify Wigner's classification for massless particles, giving a description of photons that works in all directions at the same time."

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Related Words

• earth science 
• geology 
• geopolitics 
• topography