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Discrete vs Scattered - What's the difference?

discrete | scattered |

As adjectives the difference between discrete and scattered

is that discrete is separate; distinct; individual; non-continuous while scattered is randomly distributed.

As a verb scattered is

past tense of scatter.

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

    * ----

    scattered

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (scatter)
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Randomly distributed.
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs, […], and all these articles […] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.}}
  • (meteorology, of clouds) covering three eighths to four eighths of the sky.
  • (meteorology, of precipitation) affecting 30 percent to 50 percent of a forecast zone.
  • Derived terms

    * nonscattered * scatteredly * scatteredness * unscattered

    Anagrams

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