Zeno
Zeno (adjective) means describing a process broken into an endless series of smaller and smaller steps within a fixed span of time or space. Example: “The debate turned into a zeno argument, splitting every point into ever-smaller objections that never actually finished.”
How to use Zeno
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to describe something that keeps getting divided into smaller and smaller pieces forever, echoing the old philosophical puzzles about motion and infinity.
You will mostly meet this word in maths, physics, or philosophy contexts talking about infinite sequences.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The debate turned into a _____ argument, splitting every point into ever-smaller objections that never actually finished.
Etymology
Named after Zeno of Elea, the ancient Greek philosopher famous for paradoxes about motion being divided into infinitely many steps.
Rhymes for Zeno
See all rhymes for Zeno →Frequently asked questions
What does “Zeno” mean?
The word “Zeno” means describing a process broken into an endless series of smaller and smaller steps within a fixed span of time or space. In plain terms, used to describe something that keeps getting divided into smaller and smaller pieces forever, echoing the old philosophical puzzles about motion and infinity.
How do you pronounce “Zeno”?
“Zeno” is pronounced ZEE-noh (/ˈziːnoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Zeno” in a sentence?
Here is “Zeno” used in a sentence: “The debate turned into a zeno argument, splitting every point into ever-smaller objections that never actually finished.”
What part of speech is “Zeno”?
“Zeno” is an adjective.
Where does the word “Zeno” come from?
The word “Zeno” comes from Ancient Greek. Named after Zeno of Elea, the ancient Greek philosopher famous for paradoxes about motion being divided into infinitely many steps.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Zeno: