discontinuous

[ dis-kuh n-tin-yoo-uh s ]
/ ˌdɪs kənˈtɪn yu əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR discontinuous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not continuous; broken; interrupted; intermittent: a discontinuous chain of mountains; a discontinuous argument.
Mathematics. (of a function at a point) not continuous at the point.

Origin of discontinuous

From the Medieval Latin word discontinuus, dating back to 1660–70. See dis-1, continuous

OTHER WORDS FROM discontinuous

dis·con·tin·u·ous·ly, adverb dis·con·tin·u·ous·ness, noun

Words nearby discontinuous

discontinuance, discontinuation, discontinuation test, discontinue, discontinuity, discontinuous, discontinuous variation, discopathy, discophile, discoplacenta, discord

Words related to discontinuous

alternate, desultory, disconnected, disjointed, disordered, fitful, gaping, inchoate, incoherent, interrupted, irregular, muddled, spasmodic, unconnected, unorganized

Example sentences from the Web for discontinuous

British Dictionary definitions for discontinuous

discontinuous
/ (ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjʊəs) /

adjective

characterized by interruptions or breaks; intermittent
maths (of a function or curve) changing suddenly in value for one or more values of the variable or at one or more points Compare continuous (def. 3)

Derived forms of discontinuous

discontinuously, adverb discontinuousness, noun

Scientific definitions for discontinuous

discontinuous
[ dĭs′kən-tĭn′yōō-əs ]

Mathematics Relating to a function that contains one or more points where the function is either discontinuous or undefined.