asymptote : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: asymptote	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for asymptote
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
asymptote n a straight line that is the limiting value of a curve; can be considered as tangent at infinity; "the asymptote of the curve"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Asymptote \As"ymptote\ (?; 215), n. [Gr. [?] not falling together; 'a priv. + [?] to fall together; [?] with + [?] to fall. Cf. {Symptom}.] (Math.) A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote* may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.