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Contiguous vs Discrete - What's the difference?

contiguous | discrete |

As adjectives the difference between contiguous and discrete

is that contiguous is connected; touching; abutting while discrete is separate; distinct; individual; non-continuous.

contiguous

English

Adjective

(-)
  • connected; touching; abutting
  • adjacent; neighbouring/neighboring
  • * 1730–1774 , , Introductory to Switzerland
  • Though poor the peasant’s hut, his feasts though small,
    He sees his little lot the lot of all;
    Sees no contiguous palace rear its head
    To shame the meanness of his humble shed;
  • * 1835 , William Scoresby, Memorials of the Sea (page 59)
  • the usual quietness of the day, with us, was broken in upon by the shout of success from the pursuing boats, followed by vehement respondings from the contiguous ship.
  • connecting without a break
  • The forty-eight contiguous states.
  • * 1886 , Frank Hamilton Cushing, A Study of Pueblo Pottery as Illustrative of Zuñi Culture Growth :
  • Supposing three such houses to be contiguous to a central one, each separated from the latter by a straight wall.

    Derived terms

    * contiguousness

    See also

    * conterminous

    References

    * *

    discrete

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Separate; distinct; individual; non-continuous.
  • That can be perceived individually and not as connected to, or part of something else.
  • (electrical engineering) Having separate electronic components, such as individual resistors and inductors — the opposite of integrated circuitry.
  • (audio engineering) Having separate and independent channels of audio, as opposed to multiplexed stereo or quadraphonic, or other multi-channel sound.
  • (topology) Having each singleton subset open: said of a topological space or a topology.
  • disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause
  • "I resign my life, but not my honour" is a discrete proposition.

    Usage notes

    * Often confused with discreet.

    Derived terms

    * discrete variable * discreteness

    Antonyms

    * continuous * (electrical engineering) integrated * (audio engineering) multiplexed

    Anagrams

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