singularity

[ sing-gyuh-lar-i-tee ]
/ ˌsɪŋ gyəˈlær ɪ ti /

noun, plural sin·gu·lar·i·ties for 2–4.

the state, fact, or quality of being singular.
a singular, unusual, or unique quality; peculiarity.
Mathematics. singular point.
Astronomy. (in general relativity) the mathematical representation of a black hole.

Origin of singularity

1300–50; Middle English singularite < Late Latin singulāritās. See singular, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM singularity

non·sin·gu·lar·i·ty, noun, plural non·sin·gu·lar·i·ties.

Example sentences from the Web for singularity

British Dictionary definitions for singularity

singularity
/ (ˌsɪŋɡjʊˈlærɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the state, fact, or quality of being singular
something distinguishing a person or thing from others
something remarkable or unusual
maths
  1. a point at which a function is not differentiable although it is differentiable in a neighbourhood of that pointSee also pole 2 (def. 4)
  2. another word for discontinuity
astronomy a hypothetical point in space-time at which matter is infinitely compressed to infinitesimal volume

Scientific definitions for singularity

singularity
[ sĭng′gyə-lărĭ-tē ]

A point of infinite density and infinitesimal volume, at which space and time become infinitely distorted according to the theory of General Relativity. According to the big bang theory, a gravitational singularity existed at the beginning of the universe. Singularities are also believed to exist at the center of black holes.
Mathematics A point at which the derivative does not exist for a given function but every neighborhood of which contains points for which the derivative exists.