ideal point

noun

, Mathematics.

1. the point at infinity in projective geometry at which parallel lines intersect.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ideal point¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Conventional wisdom has it that May is the ideal point to take profit on equities and lay low until later in the year.

From Reuters

The part in which characters play Tristan and Isolde doesn’t quite land, for instance: A relationship built on a mythical love potion isn’t an ideal point of comparison for a modern couple.

From New York Times

The effective end of Roe would be an ideal point for responsible pro-lifers to assert their position on abortion as part of a broader culture of life, including the unborn and their mothers, the old and ill, people with intellectual disabilities and refugees fleeing oppression.

From Washington Post

“Where is the ideal point where you can keep growing without cannibalizing the sales you already have?” he said.

From Reuters

Then the accounts were analyzed using a technique developed and validated by Pablo Barberá in a 2015 paper, “Birds of the Same Feather Tweet Together: Bayesian Ideal Point Estimation Using Twitter Data.”

From Salon