exponential

[ek-spoh-nen-shuh l, -spuh-]

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adjective

of or relating to an exponent or exponents.

Mathematics.

of or relating to the constant e.
(of an equation) having one or more unknown variables in one or more exponents.

rising or expanding at a steady and usually rapid rate:a city experiencing exponential growth.

noun

Mathematics.

the constant e raised to the power equal to a given expression, as e3x, which is the exponential of 3x.
any positive constant raised to a power.

Origin of exponential

First recorded in 1695–1705; exponent + -ial

Related formsex·po·nen·tial·ly, adverbnon·ex·po·nen·tial, adjectivenon·ex·po·nen·tial·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for exponential

epidemic, aggressive, rampant, augmented, wanton, mounting, ascending, growing

Examples from the Web for exponential

Contemporary Examples of exponential

The numbers are still small, but the growth has been exponential since the first atheist church service was held in January.
Sunday Assembly Is the Hot New Atheist Church
Nico Hines
September 21, 2013
Yet the exponential decline in the cost means that the threat posed by the fabrication of lethal bio-pathogens is rising.
Big Idea: The Time for Divided Nations Is Over
Ian Goldin
August 1, 2013
This trend will only make more sense as the exponential cost drop continues.
Should Conservatives Embrace Solar Power?
Justin Green
September 17, 2012
It has annual revenues exceeding $6 billion, an exponential improvement from the 1990s.
Onetime Internet Darling Yahoo Now on a Deathwatch
Zachary Karabell
January 5, 2012
Every tiny ounce of pressure added has an exponential effect.
The Dangerous Appeal of Choking
Gideon
June 14, 2009

Historical Examples of exponential

The energy it would receive from the Sun as it approached, an exponential curve.
The Leech
Phillips Barbee
It multiplies and surges to its fulfillment at an exponential rate.
The Demi-Urge
Thomas Michael Disch
The inevitable outcome is an exponential explosion in computing and networking power.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin

British Dictionary definitions for exponential

exponential

adjective

maths (of a function, curve, series, or equation) of, containing, or involving one or more numbers or quantities raised to an exponent, esp e x

maths raised to the power of e, the base of natural logarithmsSymbol: exp

of or involving an exponent or exponents

informal very rapid

noun

maths an exponential function, etc

Derived Formsexponentially, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for exponential

adj.

1704, from exponent + -al (1). As a noun, from 1784. Related: Exponentially.

exponential in Science

exponential

[ĕk′spə-nĕn′shəl]

Relating to a mathematical expression containing one or more exponents.♦ Something is said to increase or decrease exponentially if its rate of change must be expressed using exponents. A graph of such a rate would appear not as a straight line, but as a curve that continually becomes steeper or shallower.