discrete

Adjective

Synonyms: distinct

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (1)

constituting a separate entity or part“a government with three discrete divisions”“on two distinct occasions”Synonyms: distinct

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Discrete \Dis*crete"\, a. [L. discretus, p. p. of discernere. See Discreet.]

1.Separate; distinct; disjunct. --Sir M. Hale. [1913 Webster]

2.Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, "I resign my life, but not my honor," is a discrete proposition. [1913 Webster]

3.(Bot.) Separate; not coalescent; -- said of things usually coalescent. [1913 Webster]

Discrete movement. See Concrete movement of the voice, under Concrete, a.

Discrete proportion, proportion where the ratio of the means is different from that of either couplet; as, 3:6::8:16, 3 bearing the same proportion to 6 as 8 does to

16.But 3 is not to 6 as 6 to 8. It is thus opposed to continued or continual proportion; as, 3:6::12:24.

Discrete quantity, that which must be divided into units, as number, and is opposed to continued quantity, as duration, or extension. [1913 Webster]

Discrete \Dis*crete"\, v. t. To separate. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

discrete

<mathematics> A description of a quantity whose value is one of a fixed set of values, as opposed to a continuous - a value capable of infinitessimal variation. For example, integers are discrete values whereas real numbers are continuous; digital sound has discrete amplitude leves whereas analog sound is continuous.

(2009-10-08)