surd
Root defying fractions
Surd has two technical meanings.
In mathematics, a surd is an irrational number expressed as a root that cannot be simplified to a whole number: √2 is a surd, √4 is not.
In phonetics, a surd is a voiceless consonant—one produced without vibration of the vocal cords, like /p/ or /s/.
Both senses carry the underlying idea of something inexpressible or soundless.
Having no voice
- consonantIn agreement with
- unvoicedNot expressed aloud
- aspiratedPronounced with audible breath
- fricativeConsonant with audible friction
plosive · stop · fortis · whispered · breathed · glottal · articulation · phoneme
Lacking sound judgment
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- square rootNumber times itself equals original
- cube rootFactor tripled equals whole
- nth rootExponent's inverse operation
radicand · index · irreducible · conjugate · simplify · perfect square · algebraic · expression
Lacking sound judgment
- ineffableBeyond verbal expression
- inexpressibleCannot be put into words
- unknowableImpossible to understand
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
inexplicable · incomprehensible · unutterable · transcendental · Kierkegaard · existential · paradox · mystery
voiceless
Having no voice
fricative · plosive · stop · fortis · whispered · breathed · glottal · articulation · phoneme · allophone
irrational
Lacking sound judgment
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- square rootNumber times itself equals original
- cube rootFactor tripled equals whole
nth root · radicand · index · irreducible · conjugate · simplify · perfect square · algebraic · expression · polynomial
irrational
Lacking sound judgment
- ineffableBeyond verbal expression
- inexpressibleCannot be put into words
- unknowableImpossible to understand
meaningless · inexplicable · incomprehensible · unutterable · transcendental · Kierkegaard · existential · paradox · mystery