Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Word of the Day

Asymptote

Main Entry: as·ymp·tote

Pronunciation: \ˈa-səm(p)-ˌtōt\

Function: noun

Etymology: probably from New Latin *asymptotus, from Greek asymptōtos not meeting, from a- + sympiptein to meet — more at symptom
Date: 1656

: a straight line associated with a curve such that as a point moves along an infinite branch of the curve the distance from the point to the line approaches zero and the slope of the curve at the point approaches the slope of the line.

asymptote. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

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