finite

American  

[fahy-nahyt] / ˈfaɪ naɪt /

adjective

1. having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.

   Synonyms:

   restricted, limited, bounded

2. Mathematics.

   1. (of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.

   2. not infinite or infinitesimal.

   3. not zero.

3. subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature.

   our finite existence on earth.

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noun

1. something that is finite.

finite British  

/ ˈfaɪnaɪt /

adjective

1. bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent

   a finite difference

2. maths logic having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural number Compare denumerable infinite

3. 1. limited or restricted in nature

      human existence is finite

   2. ( as noun )

      the finite

4. denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense

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finite Scientific  

/ fī′nīt′ /

1. Relating to a set that cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with any proper subset of its own members.

2. Relating to or being a numerical quantity describing the size of such a set.

3. Being a member of the set of real or complex numbers.

4. Being a quantity that is non-zero and not infinite.

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Other Word Forms

• finitely adverb
• finiteness noun
• nonfinite adjective
• nonfinitely adverb
• nonfiniteness noun
• superfinite adjective
• superfinitely adverb
• superfiniteness noun
• unfinite adjective

Etymology

Origin of finite

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fīnītus, past participle of fīnīre to stop, limit. See fine ¹, -ite ²

Example Sentences

Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, issued the decision, saying the future of residents and local businesses “depends upon protecting the finite groundwater resources.”

From Los Angeles Times

How easily we become snobbish about ingredients that offer smart, flavorful solutions for real bodies and finite energy.

From Salon

Spectrum—the frequencies over which wireless calls travel—is a finite resource that every mobile company needs.

From Barron's

Like many indie labels with a finite reservoir of cash, Nacional lost a number of prestigious artists who made it big and were lured away by major industry players with deeper pockets.

From Los Angeles Times

In reality, cells perform thousands of simultaneous chemical processes that must share finite resources.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• definite
• fixed
• limited
• restricted