continuum
nounattested in dialogue
- //kənˈtɪnjuəm//
- //-(j)ɪu̯əm//
A continuous series or whole, no part of which is noticeably different from its adjacent parts, although the ends or extremes of it are very different from each other.
noun
- 1
A continuous series or whole, no part of which is noticeably different from its adjacent parts, although the ends or extremes of it are very different from each other.
Near-synonym: spectrum
So, the white line implies Blacklessness and the black background implies Whitelessness – that is, once the white line, a continuum, has emerged from blackness, also a continuum, and the two continua engage in an “inter-penetrative” (Buddhist term) process.
In fact, the influence of signage in a certain area may exist anywhere on a continuum from profoundly effective to utterly trivial or completely insignificant, irrespective of the intent motivating the signs.
- 2
A continuous extent.
A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place.
- 3
The nondenumerable set of real numbers; more generally, any compact connected metric space.
- 4
A touch-sensitive strip, similar to an electronic standard musical keyboard, except that the note steps are ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a semitone, and so are not separately marked.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin continuum, neuter form of continuus, from contineō (“contain, enclose”).
Forms
- plural
- continuums, continua
continuum · A continuous series or whole, no part of which is noticeably different from its adjacent parts, although the ends or extremes of it are very…
contraband · Any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.contract · An agreement between two or more parties, to perform a…contracted · Arranged by contract; established by agreement.