many-one

[ men-ee-wuhn; usually read as men-ee-tuh-wuhn ]

adjective

, Logic, Mathematics.

1. (of a relation) having the property that each element is assigned to one element only but that many elements may be assigned to the same element.

many-one

adjective

1. maths logic (of a function) associating a single element of a range with more than one member of the domain

Word History and Origins

Origin of many-one¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The relation of father to son is called a one-many relation, because a man can have only one father but may have many sons; conversely, the relation of son to father is called a many-one relation.

From Project Gutenberg

It is impossible to state this accurately in non-mathematical language; the nearest approach would be as follows: "There is a constant relation between the state of the universe at any instant and the rate of change in the rate at which any part of the universe is changing at that instant, and this relation is many-one, i.e. such that the rate of change in the rate of change is determinate when the state of the universe is given."

From Project Gutenberg

It is true that if the relation of brain to mind were many-one, not one-one, there would be a one-sided dependence of mind on brain, while conversely, if the relation were one-many, as Bergson supposes, there would be a one-aided dependence of brain on mind.

From Project Gutenberg

I. Material particles he defines as "many-one relations of all times to some places, or of all terms of a continuous one-dimensional series t to some terms of a continuous three-dimensional series s."

From Project Gutenberg

And when I further delve into my impression, I first realize an undoubtedly physical relation between the many-one Welsh divines and the many-one Unamuno.

From Project Gutenberg