asymptote

[ as-im-toht ]
/ ˈæs ɪmˌtoʊt /

noun Mathematics.

a straight line approached by a given curve as one of the variables in the equation of the curve approaches infinity.

QUIZZES

FOR POSTERITY’S SAKE, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Are words your bailiwick? Take the latest quiz on the words from July 6 to July 12 to find out.
Question 1 of 7
bailiwick
a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.
place or source of origin.
a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of asymptote

1650–60; < Greek asýmptōtos, equivalent to a- a-6 + sýmptōtos falling together (sym- sym- + ptōtós falling, derivative of ptō-, variant stem of píptein to fall + -tos verbid suffix)

Words nearby asymptote

asymmetric warfare, asymmetrical, asymmetrical warfare, asymmetry, asymptomatic, asymptote, asymptotic, asymptotic freedom, asynapsis, asynchronism, asynchronous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for asymptote

British Dictionary definitions for asymptote

asymptote
/ (ˈæsɪmˌtəʊt) /

noun

a straight line that is closely approached by a plane curve so that the perpendicular distance between them decreases to zero as the distance from the origin increases to infinity

Word Origin for asymptote

C17: from Greek asumptōtos not falling together, from a- 1 + syn- + ptōtos inclined to fall, from piptein to fall
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 asymptote

asymptote
[ ăs′ĭm-tōt′ ]

A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.