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

• continuousness noun
• continuously adverb
• 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

Related Words

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