asymptote

What is the opposite of asymptote? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.

Noun — A straight line that a curve gets closer and closer to but never actually touches as it extends towards infinity.

We haven't recorded synonyms for asymptote yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use asymptote

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

horizontal asymptote vertical asymptote approach an asymptote asymptote to zero

This is a mathematical term that occasionally appears in general writing with a figurative sense.

Etymology

The word comes from an Ancient Greek adjective meaning not falling together, built from a negative prefix, a word for together, and a word meaning fallen. It entered English use in the mid seventeenth century.

Full origin of asymptote →

Frequently asked questions

What does asymptote mean in maths?

It is a straight line that a curve approaches more and more closely but never actually meets, even as the curve stretches out towards infinity.

Can a curve ever touch its asymptote?

By definition a curve gets arbitrarily close to its asymptote but does not meet it.

Can asymptote be used outside maths?

Yes, it is sometimes used figuratively for something that keeps approaching a goal or state without ever quite reaching it.

Nearby words

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