Daily Word Box

Word

discrete

adjective C1

Meanings

adjective

Separate and distinct; not continuous or joined together.

Visual cue for discrete — meaning 1
adjective

In mathematics or computing, consisting of separate, countable values rather than a continuous range.

Visual cue for discrete — meaning 2

Definition

Discrete means separate and distinct, not continuous or connected.

Discrete describes things that are separate and clearly different from each other. It is often used in math, science, and data to talk about values that come in distinct steps rather than forming a continuous range. It can also describe events or categories that do not overlap.

Examples

  • The survey results fell into discrete categories.
  • We measured the signal at discrete time intervals.
  • The museum has discrete sections for modern and classical art.
  • These are discrete events, so we can count them one by one.