discrete

[ dih-skreet ]

adjective

1. apart or detached from others; separate; distinct:

   six discrete parts.

   Synonyms: unconnected, individual, different

2. consisting of or characterized by distinct or individual parts; discontinuous.
3. Mathematics.
   1. (of a topology or topological space) having the property that every subset is an open set.
   2. defined only for an isolated set of points:

      a discrete variable.

   3. using only arithmetic and algebra; not involving calculus:

      discrete methods.

discrete

/ dɪsˈkriːt /

adjective

1. separate or distinct in form or concept
2. consisting of distinct or separate parts
3. statistics
   1. (of a variable) having consecutive values that are not infinitesimally close, so that its analysis requires summation rather than integration
   2. (of a distribution) relating to a discrete variable Compare continuous

Usage

See discreet

Derived Forms

• disˈcreteness, noun
• disˈcretely, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·cretely adverb
• dis·creteness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discrete¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin discrētus separated; discreet

Word History and Origins

Origin of discrete¹

C14: from Latin discrētus separated, set apart; see discreet

Example Sentences

The Premier League, in its summary, said that the tribunal identified "a small number of discrete elements of the rules which did not in their current form comply with competition and public law requirements" and that these could "quickly and effectively be remedied".

From BBC

Cliff added that it was "not correct that the tribunal’s decision identifies 'certain discrete elements' of the APT rules that need to be amended in order to comply with competition and public law requirements".

From BBC

"The pieces are all much stronger when they are shuffled around, not treated like separate, discrete issues. It's all meant to be a little bit looser and a little bit less reliant on an argument spanning 30 to 45 minutes at a time."

From Salon

The proposed update would reconfigure where those warehouses could be built, from an area closer to the freeway to a more discrete location, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

What Reisner called a “discrete alliance” of environmentalists and fiscal hawks backed the 1986 Water Resources Development Act, which forced local governments to fund a chunk of future dam projects themselves.

From Slate

Related Words

• disconnected
• distinct
• various