quantized

American  

[kwon-tahyzd] / ˈkwɒn taɪzd /

especially British, quantised

adjective

1. (of a variable quantity) restricted to or expressed in discrete values rather than a continuous set of values.

   Instead of moving smoothly and continuously around the clock, this second hand snaps to each quantized second position on the dial.

   Contrary to the scenario offered by some score-writing software, we don’t live in a completely quantized musical world where every note lands precisely on the beat.

2. Physics. conforming to quantum-mechanical rather than classical theory, usually resulting in discrete values for observable quantities, such as energy or angular momentum.

   String theory has attracted attention because it provides a quantized description of gravity.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of quantize.

Etymology

Origin of quantized

First recorded in 1915–20; quantize ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; quantize ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

An international team of researchers has now achieved that goal by demonstrating a quantized transverse drift of light.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

"Observing a quantized drit of light is uniquely challenging, for photonic systems are inherently out of equilibrium," St-Jean noted.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

Under this theory, spacetime itself would become quantized, which would allow scientists to understand the behavior of large-scale spacetime through a quantum lens.

From Scientific American • Aug. 19, 2023

The song is measured and quantized, but thoroughly obsessional.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2023

Light is quantized into photons, directly contradicting the wave theory of light that had not been questioned for more than a century.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife