superposition
Americannoun
noun
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the act of superposing or state of being superposed
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geology the principle that in any sequence of sedimentary rocks which has not been disturbed, the oldest strata lie at the bottom and the youngest at the top
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The principle that in a group of stratified sedimentary rocks the lowest were the earliest to be deposited.
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The principle by which the description of the state of a physical system can be broken down into descriptions that are themselves possible states of the system. For example, harmonic motion, as of a violin string, can be analyzed as the sum of harmonic frequencies or harmonics, each of which is itself a kind of harmonic motion; harmonic motion is therefore a superposition of individual harmonics.
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The combination of two or more physical states, such as waves, to form a new physical state in accordance with this principle.
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See also wave See Note at Schrödinger
Etymology
Origin of superposition
Vocabulary lists containing superposition
Waves and Wave Properties - Middle School
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Earth Science - Middle School
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Geometry - High School
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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.
Quantum mechanics allows particles to exist in combinations of possible states, a phenomenon known as superposition.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
In the quantum world, particles can exist in a superposition of states, meaning they can occupy multiple possible positions or configurations at the same time.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
A qubit, however, can exist in a superposition of multiple states.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
Maybe we’ve slipped into a quantum superposition where gains are both reasonable and insane simultaneously.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
In some textbooks a proof is given by superposition, and the proof is legitimate, but Euclid usually avoided superposition if possible.
From The Teaching of Geometry by David Eugene Smith
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.
