logarithmic

[ law-guh-rith-mik, -rith-, log-uh- ]

adjective

, Mathematics.

1. pertaining to a logarithm or logarithms.
2. (of an equation) having a logarithm as one or more of its unknowns.
3. (of a function)
   1. pertaining to the function y = log x.
   2. expressible by means of logarithms.

logarithmic

/ ˌlɒɡəˈrɪðmɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, using, or containing logarithms of a number or variable
2. consisting of, relating to, or using points or lines whose distances from a fixed point or line are proportional to the logarithms of numbers

Derived Forms

• ˌlogaˈrithmically, adverb

Other Words From

• loga·rithmi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of logarithmic¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; logarithm + -ic

Example Sentences

The moment magnitude scale is logarithmic — that is, each whole number of magnitude represents about a 30-fold increase in energy released.

From New York Times

The scale for brightness is reverse logarithmic, which means the brighter an object is, the lower its magnitude number.

From Salon

The scale’s objective, base-10 logarithmic system caught on, and although it’s been superseded, people still attach his name to the scale.

From Los Angeles Times

But the February 6 earthquake was a 7.8—about four times bigger on the logarithmic scale of earthquake magnitudes.

From Scientific American

Earthquakes are measured on a logarithmic scale, which means the difference between a 6.8 and a 7.8 is bigger than it sounds.

From Washington Post