Hamiltonian

[ ham-uhl-toh-nee-uhn ]

/ ˌhæm əlˈtoʊ ni ən /

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adjective

pertaining to or advocating Hamiltonianism.

noun

a supporter of Alexander Hamilton or Hamiltonianism.

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Origin of Hamiltonian

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; Hamilton + -ian

Words nearby Hamiltonian

Hamhung, Hamilcar Barca, Hamill, Hamilton, Hamilton, Alexander, Hamiltonian, Hamiltonianism, Hamilton Inlet, Hamiltonstovare, Hamishah Asar Bishevat, Hamite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Hamiltonian in a sentence

Our movement will adopt a Hamiltonian posture in the way we discuss government.
A Young Republican Looks Forward||November 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And that his feelings for Hamilton led to a government and a country that became Hamiltonian rather than Jeffersonian.
Yale's Conspiracy of Silence|Larry Kramer|April 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
What Mr. Roosevelt really did was to revive the Hamiltonian ideal of constructive national legislation.
The Promise Of American Life|Herbert David Croly
The whole tendency of his programme is to give a democratic meaning and purpose to the Hamiltonian tradition and method.
The Promise Of American Life|Herbert David Croly

This paper had, by now, departed from the policy of its Hamiltonian founder.
The Life of John Marshall Volume 4 of 4|Albert J. Beveridge
Some urged Adams to overthrow the Hamiltonian cabal which opposed him.
The Life of John Marshall (Volume 2 of 4)|Albert J. Beveridge
The Hamiltonian transformation is extended to the case of varying relations as follows.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 9|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Hamiltonian

Hamiltonian

/ (ˌhæməlˈtəʊnɪən) physics maths /

noun

a mathematical function of the coordinates and momenta of a system of particles used to express their equations of motion

a mathematical operator that generates such a functionSymbol: H

adjective

denoting or relating to Sir William Rowan Hamilton, or to the theory of mechanics or mathematical operator devised by him

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 Hamiltonian

Hamiltonian

[ hăm′əl-tō′nē-ən ]

A mathematical function or operator that can be used to describe the state of a physical system. In classical mechanics, the Hamiltonian is a function of coordinates and momenta of bodies in the system, treated as independent variables. It is equal to the sum of the kinetic and potential energies of the system, and can be used to derive the equations of motion for the system. In quantum mechanics, the Hamiltonian is an operator corresponding to the total energy of the system. The Hamiltonian is named after Irish mathematician William Rowan Hamilton (1805-1865).