imaginary number
noun Mathematics.
Also called imaginary, pure imaginary number.
a complex number having its real part equal to zero.
Origin of imaginary number
First recorded in 1905–10
Words nearby imaginary number
imagesetter,
imaginable,
imaginal,
imaginary,
imaginary axis,
imaginary number,
imaginary part,
imaginary unit,
imagination,
imaginative,
imagine
British Dictionary definitions for imaginary number
imaginary number
noun
any complex number of the form i b, where i = √–1
Scientific definitions for imaginary number
imaginary number
[ ĭ-măj′ə-nĕr′ē ]
A type of complex number in which the multiple of i (the square root of -1) is not equal to zero. Examples of imaginary numbers include 4i and 2 - 3i, but not 3 + 0i (which is just 3). See more at complex number.