Asymptote Definition
ăsĭm-tōt, -ĭmp-
noun
A straight line always approaching but never meeting a curve; tangent to a curve at infinity.
Webster's New World
(by extension, figuratively) Anything which comes near to but never meets something else.
Wiktionary
A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve.
American Heritage
verb
(analysis) To approach, but never quite touch, a straight line, as something goes to infinity.
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Asymptote
Noun
Singular:
asymptote
Plural:
asymptotesOrigin of Asymptote
-
Ultimately from Greek asumptōtos not intersecting a- not a–1 sumptōtos intersecting (from sumpiptein sumptō- to converge) (sun- syn-) (piptein to fall pet- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Apollonius Pergaeus's Ancient Greek term ἀσύμπτωτος (asúmptōtos, “not falling together”), from ἀ (a, “not”) + σύν (sun, “together”) + πτωτός (ptōtos, “fallen”).
From Wiktionary
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to asymptote using the buttons below.