finite
[ fahy-nahyt ]
/ ˈfaɪ naɪt /
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adjective
having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.
Mathematics.
- (of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.
- not infinite or infinitesimal.
- not zero.
subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature: our finite existence on earth.
noun
something that is finite.
SYNONYMS FOR finite
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Origin of finite
OTHER WORDS FROM finite
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for finite
British Dictionary definitions for finite
finite
/ (ˈfaɪnaɪt) /
adjective
bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extenta finite difference
maths logic having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural numberCompare denumerable, infinite (def. 4)
- limited or restricted in naturehuman existence is finite
- (as noun)the finite
denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense
Derived forms of finite
finitely, adverbfiniteness, nounWord Origin for finite
C15: from Latin fīnītus limited, from fīnīre to limit, end
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 finite
finite
[ fī′nīt′ ]
Relating to a set that cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with any proper subset of its own members.
Relating to or being a numerical quantity describing the size of such a set.
Being a member of the set of real or complex numbers.
Being a quantity that is non-zero and not infinite.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.