discrete
Not joined together
Discrete means individually separate or distinct, not connected to others: The course is divided into twelve discrete modules.
The word often emphasizes that things which might seem continuous are actually divided into distinct units: discrete categories, discrete steps in a process.
In mathematics and computing, discrete refers to values that are countable and separate rather than continuous.
Often confused with discreet, which means careful or unobtrusive—the two words share an origin but have diverged completely in meaning.
Smallest discrete unit
- quantizedDivided into minimum units
- digitalOf discrete data
- binaryConsisting of two parts
- stepwiseProceeding by degrees
integer · countable · finite · enumerable · packets · quanta · levels · states
One separate human being
- separateTo set apart
- independentFree from external control
- particularSpecific or fussy
- specificClearly defined, not vague
singular · unique · standalone · self-contained · autonomous · unconnected · isolated · detached
Occurring at irregular intervals
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- episodicOccurring in distinct segments
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
isolated · broken · interrupted · gapped · fragmented · noncontinuous · stepwise · incremental
Element of a system
- unitIndividual part or measure
- elementBasic substance or factor
- moduleIndependent functional component
- interchangeableAble to replace another
plug-and-play · configurable · subsystem · assembly · node · segment · cell · piece
Prone to fluctuation
- valueImportance or price
- setArrange in position
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
function · topology · space · metric · combinatorics · graph · sequence · series
quantum
Smallest discrete unit
stepwise · integer · countable · finite · enumerable · packets · quanta · levels · states · increments
individual
One separate human being
- separateTo set apart
- independentFree from external control
- particularSpecific or fussy
specific · singular · unique · standalone · self-contained · autonomous · unconnected · isolated · detached · differentiated
intermittent
Occurring at irregular intervals
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- episodicOccurring in distinct segments
scattered · isolated · broken · interrupted · gapped · fragmented · noncontinuous · stepwise · incremental · punctuated
component
Element of a system
- unitIndividual part or measure
- elementBasic substance or factor
- moduleIndependent functional component
interchangeable · plug-and-play · configurable · subsystem · assembly · node · segment · cell · piece · part
variable
Prone to fluctuation
- valueImportance or price
- setArrange in position
- distributionAllocation across recipients
probability · function · topology · space · metric · combinatorics · graph · sequence · series · structure
partition
Barrier separating spaces
detach · sever · disjoin · uncouple · disentangle · compartmentalize · demarcate · section · subdivide · fragment
- sequencessequence, arithmetic, series, geometric, progressions
- bacterial coloniescolony, petri dish, circular, convex, raised
- computational modelingalgorithm, parameter, variable, model, simulation
- distributionsnormal, uniform, binomial, exponential, bell curve
- quantizationquantization, quantize, quantizing, bit depth, levels
- rasterizationpixel, pixels, scanline, scanlines, bitmap
discretecontinuous
Without pause or gap
connected · joined · merged · integrated · fused
discretecontinuous
Without pause or gap
analog · analogue · nondiscrete · unbroken · smooth
- viewer discretionContent warning notice
- judge's discretionCourt's interpretive freedom
- full discretion
- police discretionOfficer's situational judgment authority
- discrete geometryMathematics of finite configurations
- judicial discretionJudge's decision-making freedom
discreet, discretion, indiscreet, indiscretion, discretely, discretions, discreteness, discretize