asymptote

as·ymp·tote  (sm-tt, -mp-) n. A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve. [Ultimately from Greek asumpttos, not intersecting : a-, not; see a-1 + sumpttos, intersecting (from sumpiptein, sumpt-, to converge : sun-, syn- + piptein, to fall; see pet- in Indo-European roots).] asymp·totic (-ttk), asymp·toti·cal adj. asymp·toti·cal·ly adv.

asymptote The x and y axes are asymptotes of the hyperbola xy = 1.

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asymptote [ˈæsɪmˌtəʊt]

n

(Mathematics) a straight line that is closely approached by a plane curve so that the perpendicular distance between them decreases to zero as the distance from the origin increases to infinity

[from Greek asumptōtos not falling together, from a-¹ + syn- + ptōtos inclined to fall, from piptein to fall]

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asymptote  (sm-tt) A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve.

asymptote left: The x and y axes are asymptotes of the hypberola xy = 1. right: The x axis is the asymptote of the curve y = sin x/x .

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

asymptote - a straight line that is the limiting value of a curve; can be considered as tangent at infinity; "the asymptote of the curve" straight line - a line traced by a point traveling in a constant direction; a line of zero curvature; "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line"