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Singular vs Discrete - What's the difference?

singular | discrete |

As adjectives the difference between singular and discrete

is that singular is being only one of a larger population while discrete is separate; distinct; individual; non-continuous.

As a noun singular

is a form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.

singular

English

Alternative forms

* (abbreviation):

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Being only one of a larger population.
    • A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
  • Being the only one of the kind; unique.
    • She has a singular personality.
  • * Addison
    • These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.
  • * Chaucer
    • And God forbid that all a company / Should rue a singular man's folly.
    (Francis Bacon)
  • Distinguished by superiority; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional.
    • a man of singular gravity or attainments
  • Out of the ordinary; curious.
    • It was very singular ; I don't know why he did it.
  • * Denham
    • So singular a sadness / Must have a cause as strange as the effect.
  • * Milton
    • His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.
  • (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.
  • (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.
  • (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
  • (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own .
  • (legal) Each; individual.
    • to convey several parcels of land, all and singular
  • (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
  • * Holinshed
    • to try the matter thus together in a singular combat

    Synonyms

    * (being only one) individual * (being the only one of a kind) unique * (distinguished by superiority) exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable * (being out of the ordinary) curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, strange, rum, rummy, unusual * non-invertible

    Antonyms

    * plural * invertible, non-singular

    Derived terms

    * singularity * singularize

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.

    • Antonyms

    * plural

    External links

    * * *

    See also

    * * simplex * simple * single * singulus

    Anagrams

    * ----

    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

    * ----