abscissa
/æbˈsɪs.ə/ noun
Forms abscissas abscissae abscissæ
- noun (geometry) The first of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes. “The point (3,2) has 3 as its abscissa and 2 as its ordinate.”
- noun (geometry) The horizontal line representing an axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, on which the abscissa (sense above) is shown.
Synonyms
absciss
Etymology
By ellipsis from Latin [linea] abscissa, feminine of abscissus, perfect passive participle of abscindō (“cut off”). See abscind.
Webster’s 1913
- noun One of the elements of reference by which a point, as of a curve, is referred to a system of fixed rectilineal coördinate axes.
Etymology [L., fem. of abscissus, p. p. of absindere to cut of. See Abscind.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “abscissa”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details