infinity

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English infinite, from Old French infinité, from Latin īnfīnitās (“unlimitedness”), from negative prefix in- (“not”), + fīnis (“end”), + noun of state suffix -tās. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɪnˈfɪnɪti/ (General American) IPA(key): [ɪnˈfɪnɪɾi] Rhymes: -ɪnɪti === Noun === infinity (countable and uncountable, plural infinities) (uncountable) endlessness, unlimitedness, absence of a beginning, end or limits to size. (countable, mathematics) A number that has an infinite numerical value that cannot be counted. Synonym: ∞ (symbol) (countable, topology, mathematical analysis) An idealised point which is said to be approached by sequences of values whose magnitudes increase without bound. (uncountable) A number which is very large compared to some characteristic number. For example, in optics, an object which is much further away than the focal length of a lens is said to be "at infinity", as the distance of the image from the lens varies very little as the distance increases further. (countable, uncountable) The symbol ∞. ==== Usage notes ==== In mathematics there are several different infinities; see transfinite. ==== Synonyms ==== (absence of a beginning, end or limits to size): See also Thesaurus:infinity ==== Antonyms ==== finity ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === eternal eternity transfinite