Abscissa
/æbˈsɪsə/
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Graph Usage
Use 'abscissa' when discussing positions on a chart, particularly in scientific or mathematical contexts. 
The experiment's results can be seen as varying temperatures are mapped against time on the abscissa.
Pro Tip 2/3Pair with Ordinate
'Abscissa' is often paired with 'ordinate' to discuss horizontal and vertical graph coordinates respectively. 
For our data, time is represented by the abscissa, while velocity is represented by the ordinate.
Pro Tip 3/3Academic Term
The term is formal and primarily used in academic or technical settings, not in everyday conversation. 
In today's lesson, we'll learn how the abscissa relates to functions in analytical geometry.