discrete

/dis'kri:t/

Thân thiện

The teacher placed three discrete piles of colored blocks on the table.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Constituting a separate and distinct entity or part: "Discrete" describes things that are individually separate, distinct, and not connected or continuous with each other.
   • Individually distinct and non-continuous: In mathematics and logic, it refers to quantities or data that are composed of distinct, separate values, as opposed to a continuous range.

Usage and Examples

• General Use:
  • The report is divided into three discrete sections. (The report is separated into three distinct and independent parts.)
  • Sound can be analyzed as a series of discrete frequencies. (Sound can be broken down into individual, separate frequency components.)
• Technical/Scientific Use:
  • Digital signals represent information as a sequence of discrete values. (Digital signals use distinct, separate numbers to convey data.)
  • The study focused on discrete events rather than a continuous process. (The research examined individual, separate occurrences.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Discrete" vs. "Discreet": A critical distinction. "Discrete" means separate or distinct. "Discreet" means careful, prudent, or tactful in conduct.
  • The sensors collect discrete data points. (The sensors gather individual, separate pieces of data.)
  • Please be discreet about this confidential information. (Please be careful and tactful with this secret.)
• In Mathematics and Computing:
  • Discrete mathematics: A branch of mathematics dealing with countable, separate structures (e.g., integers, graphs, statements in logic).
  • Discrete variable: A variable that can only take on specific, separate values, often counted in whole numbers.

Variants and Related Words

• Discretely (adverb): In a separate, distinct, or individual manner.
  • The topics were handled discretely. (The subjects were managed as separate items.)
• Discreteness (noun): The quality or state of being discrete.
  • The discreteness of the modules allows for easy replacement. (The separateness of the components makes them simple to swap out.)

Synonyms

• Separate: Not joined or connected.
• Distinct: Recognizably different in nature; not identical.
• Individual: Single, separate.
• Discontinuous: Having breaks or interruptions; not continuous.

Antonyms

• Continuous: Forming an unbroken whole; without interruption.
• Connected: Joined or linked together.
• Indistinct: Not clear or sharply defined.

Related Phrases and Technical Terms

• Discrete distribution (Statistics): A probability distribution of a random variable that can take on only a finite or countably infinite number of values.
• Discrete component (Electronics): An individual electronic component, such as a resistor or transistor, packaged separately.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. constituting a separate entity or part
   • a government with three discrete divisions
   • on two distinct occasions

Từ đồng nghĩa

• distinct