surd

American  

[surd] / sɜrd /

adjective

1. Phonetics. voiceless (sonant ).

2. Mathematics. (of a quantity) not capable of being expressed in rational numbers; irrational.

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noun

1. Phonetics. a voiceless consonant (sonant ).

2. Mathematics. a surd quantity.

surd British  

/ sɜːd /

noun

1. maths an expression containing one or more irrational roots of numbers, such as 2√3 + 3√2 + 6

2. phonetics a voiceless consonant, such as ( t )

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adjective

1. of or relating to a surd

Etymology

Origin of surd

First recorded in 1545–55, surd is from the Latin word surdus dull-sounding, mute, deaf

Example Sentences

It offers private, group and corporate surf lessons, as well as an after-school program, surd camps and rentals, according to its website.

From Washington Times • Aug. 12, 2021

You have made a surd perfectly absurd, and—” “Mr Hasnip!” came from the other end of the great room.

From Burr Junior by Earnshaw, H. C. (Harold C.)

Since the fraction is infinite it cannot be commensurable and therefore its value is a quadratic surd number.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 2 "Constantine Pavlovich" to "Convention" by Various

A surd is a radical whose meaning cannot be exactly ascertained.

From The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll (Rev. C. L. Dodgson) by Collingwood, Stuart Dodgson

It is classed as a surd spirant, its corresponding sonant spirant being v, which is distinguished from f by being pronounced with voice instead of breath, as may be perceived by pronouncing ef, ev.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 3: Estremoz to Felspar by Various