wikipedia|Continuity
English

Etymology
From L. continuus, from continere, �to hold together�.

Pronunciation
AHD|k�n-tĭnʹyo�o-�s, IPA|/k�n�tɪnju�s/, SAMPA|/k@n"tInju@s/
audio|en-us-continuous.ogg|Audio (US)

Adjective
en-adj|-

1. Without break, cessation, or interruption; without intervene|intervening time.

#* a continuous current of electricity
#* rfdate He can hear its continuous murmur. - Longfellow.

1. Without intervening space; continued; protracted; extended.

#* a continuous line of railroad

1. botany Not deviate|deviating or varying from uniformity; not interrupted; not joined or articulated.
2. analysis Of a map, having the mathematical property that has the following formal <math>\epsilon</math>-<math>\delta</math>-definition: Given <math>I,D\subset\mathbb{R}</math> (I and D are subsets of the real numbers), continuity of <math>f(x):I \to D</math> (<math>f(x)</math> maps the interval I to the interval D) at <math>c\in\mathbb{R}</math> means, for all <math>\varepsilon>0</math>, there exists a <math>\delta>0</math> such that <math>|x-c|<\delta</math> and <math>x\in I</math> implies <math>|f(x)-f(c)|<\varepsilon</math>.
3. grammar Expressing an ongoing action or state.

Usage notes
Continuous is the stronger word, and denotes that the continuity or union of parts is absolute and uninterrupted; as, a continuous sheet of ice; a continuous flow of water or of argument. So Daniel Webster speaks of "a continuous and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England."
Continual, in most cases, marks a close and unbroken succession of things, rather than absolute continuity. Thus we speak of continual showers, implying a repetition with occasional interruptions; we speak of a person as liable to continual calls, or as subject to continual applications for aid, etc.

Synonyms
(without break, cessation, or interruption in time): constant, continual (but see usage notes above), never-ending, ongoing, unbroken, unceasing, unending, uninterrupted
(without break, cessation, or interruption in space): connected, unbroken

Antonyms
(without break, cessation, or interruption in time): broken, discontinuous, discrete, intermittent, interrupted
(without break, cessation, or interruption in space): broken, disconnected, disjoint, unbroken
(in mathematical analysis): discontinuous, stepwise

Derived terms
continuous brake<!--Webster:
Continuous brake, (Railroad): a brake which is attached to each car of a train, and can be caused to operate in all the cars simultaneously from a point on any car or on the engine.-->
continuous impost<!--Webster: *Continuous impost. See Impost.-->

Translations
trans-top|without break, cessation, or interruption in time
Chinese, Simplified: �续� (chíxù de), �续� (liánxù de)
Chinese, Traditional: ���, ���
Dutch: t-|nl|continu, t|nl|voortdurend, t|nl|ononderbroken, t|nl|aanhoudend
French: t-|fr|continu
German: t+|de|kontinuierlich, t+|de|stetig
Hebrew: רצ�ף romanization of Hebrew|ratzíf m, רצ�פ� romanization of Hebrew|retzifá f
Hungarian: folytonos, folyamatos
Italian: t+|it|continuo
trans-mid
Portuguese: t+|pt|contínuo
Scots: conteenuous
Russian: неп�е��вн�й (njeprjerývnyj)
trans-bottom

trans-top|without break, cessation, or interruption in space
Chinese, Simplified: �续� (chíxù de), �续� (liánxù de)
Chinese, Traditional: ���, ���
Dutch: t-|nl|continu, t|nl|ononderbroken
French: t-|fr|continu
German: kontinuierlich, stetig
Hebrew: רצ�ף romanization of Hebrew|ratzíf m, רצ�פ� romanization of Hebrew|retzifá f
Hungarian: folyamatos
Italian: t+|it|continuo
trans-mid
Portuguese: contínuo
Scots: conteenuous
Russian: неп�е��вн�й (njeprjerývnyj)
trans-bottom

trans-top|in botany
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|in mathematical analysis
Chinese, Simplified: �续� (liánxù de)
Chinese, Traditional: ���
Dutch: t-|nl|continu
French: t-|fr|continu
German: kontinuierlich, stetig
Hebrew: רצ�ף romanization of Hebrew|ratzíf m, רצ�פ� romanization of Hebrew|retzifá f
Hungarian: folytonos
trans-mid
Portuguese: contínuo
Russian: неп�е��вн�й (njeprjerývnyj)
trans-bottom

trans-top|in grammar
Hungarian: folyamatos
trans-mid
Russian: t+|ru|дли�ел�н�й|trdlitjel'nýj|scCyrl
trans-bottom

See also
constant
contiguous

Category:Time

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fi:continuous
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vi:continuous
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zh:continuous

• 2007-12-18 13:02 - Tbot - added t for de, pt, ru

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