discontinuity
Sudden jarring interruption
A discontinuity is a break or gap in something that should be continuous.
In mathematics, it's a point where a function jumps or becomes undefined.
In geology, a discontinuity marks where rock layers or properties change abruptly.
More broadly, any interruption in a sequence or pattern: The war created a discontinuity in the city's development.
The word emphasizes that something expected to flow smoothly doesn't.
Deep, steep-sided gap
- voidWithout legal effect
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- riftCrack or estrangement
- breachBreaking of agreement
hiatus · lacuna · fissure · break · separation · gulf · divide · cleft
Temporary cessation of activity
- haltComplete sudden stop
- breakInterrupt continuity
- cessationA full stopping
- stoppageInterruption of flow
suspension · disruption · lull · intermission · disruption · standstill · cutoff · blackout
Propel oneself airborne
- singularityPoint where values explode
- asymptoteUnreached bounding curve
- limitMaximum allowed extent
- step functionPiecewise constant graph
removable · essential · infinite · point · interval · derivative · piecewise · undefined
Imperfection or blame
- unconformityGap in rock sequence
- stratumHorizontal layer of material
- beddingMaterials covering a mattress
- layerSingle thickness of material
erosion · sedimentary · seismic · tectonic · stratification · outcrop · formation · angular
Departure from standard
- unevennessLack of uniformity
- fluctuationIrregular change over time
- variabilityTendency to change
- nonuniformityLack of consistency throughout
disparity · discrepancy · incoherence · disjointedness · patchiness · asymmetry · roughness · bumpiness
chasm
Deep, steep-sided gap
breach · hiatus · lacuna · fissure · break · separation · gulf · divide · cleft · interval
pause
Temporary cessation of activity
stoppage · suspension · disruption · lull · intermission · disruption · standstill · cutoff · blackout · outage
jump
Propel oneself airborne
- singularityPoint where values explode
- asymptoteUnreached bounding curve
- limitMaximum allowed extent
step function · removable · essential · infinite · point · interval · derivative · piecewise · undefined · domain
fault
Imperfection or blame
- unconformityGap in rock sequence
- stratumHorizontal layer of material
- beddingMaterials covering a mattress
layer · erosion · sedimentary · seismic · tectonic · stratification · outcrop · formation · angular · disconformity
irregularity
Departure from standard
- unevennessLack of uniformity
- fluctuationIrregular change over time
- variabilityTendency to change
nonuniformity · disparity · discrepancy · incoherence · disjointedness · patchiness · asymmetry · roughness · bumpiness · choppiness
- changechange, flux, transformation, metamorphosis, alteration
- gapsgap, rift, void, chasm, crack
- modernismPicasso, Matisse, Duchamp, Braque, Kandinsky
- film timeflashback, flash forward, flash-forward, time lapse, time-lapse
- future shockinformation overload, rapid change, digital fatigue, obsolescence, disruption
- experimental narrativemetafiction, nonlinear plot, fragmented narrative, unreliable narrator, stream of consciousness
discontinuitycontinuity
Uninterrupted progression or coherence
continuation · continuum · persistence · progression · seamlessness
discontinuitycontinuity
Uninterrupted progression or coherence
coherence · unity · smoothness · connectedness · integration