Discontinuous
adjective
Not continuous; having interruptions or gaps.
There are discontinuous intervals in the recording where the artist paused to think.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous function
- discontinuous signal
adjective
Present in some places and absent in others; not uniformly present.
In snakes, the scale pattern is discontinuous and complex.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous distribution
- discontinuous variation
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Not smooth or continuous in transition.
A discontinuous function has points where the value jumps suddenly.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous graph
- discontinuous curve
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Occurring or existing at distinct or separate times.
His discontinuous attendance at school has hindered his learning.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous employment
- discontinuous period
adjective
Not continuous; having interruptions or gaps.
There are discontinuous intervals in the recording where the artist paused to think.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous function
- discontinuous signal
adjective
Present in some places and absent in others; not uniformly present.
In snakes, the scale pattern is discontinuous and complex.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous distribution
- discontinuous variation
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Not smooth or continuous in transition.
A discontinuous function has points where the value jumps suddenly.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous graph
- discontinuous curve
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Occurring or existing at distinct or separate times.
His discontinuous attendance at school has hindered his learning.
Often appears as...
- discontinuous employment
- discontinuous period
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Visualizing Gaps
Imagine visual breaks or gaps in something typically connected or fluid to grasp 'discontinuous'.
The trail was discontinuous, with parts washed out by rain.
Pro Tip 2/2Context Nuance
'Discontinuous' stresses the presence of interruptions rather than their duration or frequency.
The discontinuous sound from the construction site made it hard to concentrate.
Pro Tip 1/2Visualizing Gaps
Imagine visual breaks or gaps in something typically connected or fluid to grasp 'discontinuous'.
The trail was discontinuous, with parts washed out by rain.
Pro Tip 2/2Context Nuance
'Discontinuous' stresses the presence of interruptions rather than their duration or frequency.
The discontinuous sound from the construction site made it hard to concentrate.
Pro Tip 1/2Visualizing Gaps
Imagine visual breaks or gaps in something typically connected or fluid to grasp 'discontinuous'.
The trail was discontinuous, with parts washed out by rain.
Pro Tip 2/2Context Nuance
'Discontinuous' stresses the presence of interruptions rather than their duration or frequency.
The discontinuous sound from the construction site made it hard to concentrate.
Compare with
disconnectdisjointeddisorganizedfragmentincoherentintermittentpatchysporadic
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Video examples
Pirate Ship Wreck...
feet our artifacts are scattered across this area in what is known as a discontinuous archaeological site as each individual artifact is recovered its position on the site is accurately locked this enables Barrie to understand the layout of the widow wreck
Video examples
What COVID-19 means for...
of making that transition? I think some of the trends that are emerging coming out of this pandemic or coming into it and as we look forward is, clearly, this has been a discontinuous change in the trend line
Video examples
Pirate Ship Wreck...
feet our artifacts are scattered across this area in what is known as a discontinuous archaeological site as each individual artifact is recovered its position on the site is accurately locked this enables Barrie to understand the layout of the widow wreck
Video examples
What COVID-19 means for...
of making that transition? I think some of the trends that are emerging coming out of this pandemic or coming into it and as we look forward is, clearly, this has been a discontinuous change in the trend line
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Brian Eno
British Musician
Classical - perhaps I should say 'orchestral' - music is so digital, so cut up, rhythmically, pitchwise and in terms of the roles of the musicians. It's all in little boxes. The reason you get child prodigies in chess, arithmetic, and classical composition is that they are all worlds of discontinuous, parceled-up possibilities.
Quote examples
David Bohm
American Scientist
In relativity, movement is continuous, causally determinate and well defined, while in quantum mechanics it is discontinuous, not causally determinate and not well defined.
Quote examples
Mark Vonnegut
American Author
Life for the unwell is discontinuous and unpredictable. Things just come out of nowhere. People try but mostly do a lousy job of taking care of you.
Quote examples
Brian Eno
British Musician
Classical - perhaps I should say 'orchestral' - music is so digital, so cut up, rhythmically, pitchwise and in terms of the roles of the musicians. It's all in little boxes. The reason you get child prodigies in chess, arithmetic, and classical composition is that they are all worlds of discontinuous, parceled-up possibilities.
Quote examples
David Bohm
American Scientist
In relativity, movement is continuous, causally determinate and well defined, while in quantum mechanics it is discontinuous, not causally determinate and not well defined.
Quote examples
Mark Vonnegut
American Author
Life for the unwell is discontinuous and unpredictable. Things just come out of nowhere. People try but mostly do a lousy job of taking care of you.
Example 1 of 3
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