abscissa

[ ab-sis-uh ]
/ æbˈsɪs ə /

noun, plural ab·scis·sas, ab·scis·sae [ab-sis-ee] /æbˈsɪs i/. Mathematics.

(in plane Cartesian coordinates) the x-coordinate of a point: its distance from the y-axis measured parallel to the x-axis.
Compare ordinate.

Origin of abscissa

1690–1700; feminine of Latin abscissus (past participle of abscindere to abscind)

Example sentences from the Web for abscissa

British Dictionary definitions for abscissa

abscissa
/ (æbˈsɪsə) /

noun plural -scissas or -scissae (-ˈsɪsiː)

the horizontal or x -coordinate of a point in a two-dimensional system of Cartesian coordinates. It is the distance from the y -axis measured parallel to the x -axis Compare ordinate

Word Origin for abscissa

C17: New Latin, originally linea abscissa a cut-off line

Scientific definitions for abscissa

abscissa
[ ăb-sĭsə ]

Plural abscissas abscissae (ăb-sĭsē)

The distance of a point from the y-axis on a graph in the Cartesian coordinate system. It is measured parallel to the x-axis. For example, a point having coordinates (2,3) has 2 as its abscissa. Compare ordinate.