ordinate

American  

[awr-dn-it, -eyt] / ˈɔr dnˌɪt, -ˌeɪt /

noun

1. Mathematics. (in plane Cartesian coordinates) the y-coordinate of a point: its distance from the x-axis measured parallel to the y-axis.

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ordinate British  

/ ˈɔːdɪnɪt /

noun

1. the vertical or y -coordinate of a point in a two-dimensional system of Cartesian coordinates Compare abscissa See also Cartesian coordinates

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ordinate Scientific  

/ ôr′dn-ĭt /

1. The distance of a point from the x-axis on a graph in the Cartesian coordinate system. It is measured parallel to the y-axis. For example, a point having coordinates (2,3) has 3 as its ordinate.

2. Compare abscissa

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Etymology

Origin of ordinate

1670–80; extracted from New Latin ( līnea ) ordināte ( applicāta ) (line applied) in order; ordināte (adv.), derivative of Latin ordinātus arranged. See ordination

Compare meaning

How does ordinate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ordinate vs. abscissa

Example Sentences

“Would it be in an ordinate amount, you know, something crazy? No, it’s not going to be that.”

From Seattle Times

The Catholic Church does not ordinate women as priests.

From Washington Times

This new debate only focuses on the Amazon region, and would definitely not open any doors for already ordinated priests to take a spouse.

From Salon

“He doesn’t know much. We do a good job of sheltering him, but it’s been hard. And there’s an ordinate amount of fear that goes with that.”

From Fox News

By the end of the day, the sand is crisscrossed with a mesh of ordinates, abscissas, curves to account for everything in nature.

From Literature

Related Words

• appoint
• authorize
• call for
• direct
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