superpose
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to place above or upon something else, or one upon another.
-
Geometry. to place (one figure) in the space occupied by another, so that the two figures coincide throughout their whole extent.
verb
-
geometry to transpose (the coordinates of one geometric figure) to coincide with those of another
-
a rare word for superimpose
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of superpose
From the French word superposer, dating back to 1815–25. See super-, pose 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But in this fickle and aberrated mind ideas superpose themselves on each other, then pass away, and those which disappear leave their shadow on those which follow.
From Là-bas by Wallace, Keene
Now it is the same thing with symmetric spherical triangles; we cannot superpose them.
From The Teaching of Geometry by Smith, David Eugene
It will come from one side of this partition to superpose itself on the hydrostatic pressure, which latter must have the same value on both sides.
From The New Physics and Its Evolution by Poincaré, Lucien
In a general way, measuring is a wholly human operation, which implies that we really or ideally superpose two objects one on another a certain number of times.
From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur
To put over or upon; as to superpose one rock upon another.
From Orthography As Outlined in the State Course of Study for Illinois by Cavins, Elmer W.
Like entanglement, the superposed states essential to its power are fragile, collapsing when measured or otherwise perturbed by the outside world.
From Science Magazine ● Jun. 3, 2021
Quantum computers, in contrast, traffic in qubits, which are constructed out of superposed particles that embody numerous states simultaneously.
From Scientific American ● Apr. 20, 2021
This is further supported by the dust lanes superposed on the host nucleus17, 61.
From Nature ● Oct. 15, 2017
Such a device would be able to carry out many calculations in parallel, with each of the superposed states acting as part of the calculation.
From Economist ● Oct. 11, 2012
The eyes are in motion most of the time, hence, certain effects of an illusory nature may be superposed upon stationary objects.
From Visual Illusions Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications by Luckiesh, Matthew
When they do so, the pairs start behaving like a single particle, superposing proclivities and all.
From Economist ● Feb. 23, 2012
Lay out the drawer front by superposing the dovetailed side, X, on the end of the front, Y, as in a thru dovetail.
From Handwork in Wood by Noyes, William
All such wave-motions can be produced by superposing a number of simple wave forms.
From The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4) A Plain Story Simply Told by Thomson, J. Arthur
INTERFERENCE.—The crossing or superposing of two sets of electric waves of the same or slightly different lengths which tend to oppose each other.
From The Radio Amateur's Hand Book by Collins, A. Frederick (Archie Frederick)
A second arrangement consists in superposing the end of the exhaust-pipe upon a casing of suitable size, which casing is partitioned off by several perforated baffle-plates.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
