surd

[ surd ]

adjective

1. Phonetics. voiceless ( sonant ).
2. Mathematics. (of a quantity) not capable of being expressed in rational numbers; irrational.

noun

1. Phonetics. a voiceless consonant ( sonant ).
2. Mathematics. a surd quantity.

surd

/ sɜːd /

noun

1. maths an expression containing one or more irrational roots of numbers, such as 2√3 + 3√2 + 6
2. phonetics a voiceless consonant, such as ( t )

adjective

1. of or relating to a surd

Word History and Origins

Origin of surd¹

First recorded in 1545–55, surd is from the Latin word surdus dull-sounding, mute, deaf

Word History and Origins

Origin of surd¹

C16: from Latin surdus muffled

Example Sentences

Absurd, ab-surd′, adj. obviously unreasonable or false: ridiculous.

From Project Gutenberg

Again, he points out that the surd aspirate h is heard in some languages, but is hardly audible in others.

From Project Gutenberg

Surdimū′tism, the condition of being deaf and dumb; Surd′ity, want of sonant quality.

From Project Gutenberg

The terms sonant and surd are, in a scientific point of view, the least exceptionable.

From Project Gutenberg

The problems have a surd or irrational element in them; and to solve them would be to bring reason into collision with itself.

From Project Gutenberg