English Explanatory Dictionary

infinity

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. endlessness, unlimitedness, absence of a beginning, end or limits to size.
  2. A number that has an infinite numerical value that cannot be counted.
  3. An idealised point which is said to be approached by sequences of values whose magnitudes increase without bound.
  4. A number which is very large compared to some characteristic number. For example, in optics, an object which is much further away than the focal length of a lens is said to be "at infinity", as the distance of the image from the lens varies very little as the distance increases further.
  5. The symbol ∞.

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈfɪnɪti/ [ɪnˈfɪnɪɾi] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-infinity.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-infinity.wav

Word forms

infinity infinities

Etymology

From Middle English infinite, from Old French infinité, from Latin īnfīnitās (“unlimitedness”), from negative prefix in- (“not”), + fīnis (“end”), + noun of state suffix -tās.

Synonyms

boundlessness endlessness infiniteness infinitude infinity limitlessness unendingness unlimitedness ∞ mul:∞

Antonyms

finity

Related words

finish finite infinite infinitesimal infinitieth infinitude eternal eternity transfinite

Derived words

axiom of infinity infinity box infinity-edge pool infinityfold infinity pool infinity scarf infinity shot infinity sign infinity symbol infinity transmitter null infinity point at infinity zero one infinity rule
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