exponent

[ ik-spoh-nuhnt, ek-spoh-nuhnt ]
/ ɪkˈspoʊ nənt, ˈɛk spoʊ nənt /

noun

a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets: an exponent of modern theory in the arts.
a person or thing that is a representative, advocate, type, or symbol of something: Lincoln is an exponent of American democracy.
Mathematics. a symbol or number placed above and after another symbol or number to denote the power to which the latter is to be raised: The exponents of the quantities xn, 2m, y4, and 35 are, respectively, n, m, 4, and 5.

Origin of exponent

1575–85; < Latin expōnent- (stem of expōnēns), present participle of expōnere to expound; see -ent

Example sentences from the Web for exponent

British Dictionary definitions for exponent

exponent
/ (ɪkˈspəʊnənt) /

noun

(usually foll by of) a person or thing that acts as an advocate (of an idea, cause, etc)
a person or thing that explains or interprets
a performer or interpretive artist, esp a musician
Also called: power, index maths a number or variable placed as a superscript to the right of another number or quantity indicating the number of times the number or quantity is to be multiplied by itself

adjective

offering a declaration, explanation, or interpretation

Word Origin for exponent

C16: from Latin expōnere to set out, expound, from pōnere to set, place

Scientific definitions for exponent

exponent
[ ĕkspō′nənt, ĭk-spōnənt ]

A number or symbol, placed above and to the right of the expression to which it applies, that indicates the number of times the expression is used as a factor. For example, the exponent 3 in 53 indicates 5 X 5 X 5; the exponent x in (a + b)x indicates (a + b) multiplied by itself x times.

Cultural definitions for exponent

exponent

A number placed above and to the right of another number to show that it has been raised to a power. For example, 32 indicates that 3 has been raised to a power of 2, or multiplied by itself; 32 is equal to 9.