Discontinuity
noun
A break or interruption in something that was continuous or whole.
There was a brief discontinuity in the broadcast due to technical issues.
noun
A place in a mathematical function where the function does not have a particular value.
In calculus, a point of discontinuity is a place where a function is not defined or is undefined.
Often appears as...
- point of discontinuity
- discontinuity in calculus
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A change in the properties or characteristics in a material or the way it behaves.
The ultrasound revealed a discontinuity in the metal, which suggested a flaw or crack.
Often appears as...
- discontinuity in material
- discontinuity detection
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
An abrupt change in the style, tone, or story line in a movie, television show, etc.
Viewers were distracted by the discontinuity between scenes in the poorly edited movie.
Often appears as...
- discontinuity editing
- plot discontinuity
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A break or interruption in something that was continuous or whole.
There was a brief discontinuity in the broadcast due to technical issues.
noun
A place in a mathematical function where the function does not have a particular value.
In calculus, a point of discontinuity is a place where a function is not defined or is undefined.
Often appears as...
- point of discontinuity
- discontinuity in calculus
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A change in the properties or characteristics in a material or the way it behaves.
The ultrasound revealed a discontinuity in the metal, which suggested a flaw or crack.
Often appears as...
- discontinuity in material
- discontinuity detection
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
An abrupt change in the style, tone, or story line in a movie, television show, etc.
Viewers were distracted by the discontinuity between scenes in the poorly edited movie.
Often appears as...
- discontinuity editing
- plot discontinuity
Usage tips
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Unexpected Halt
Use 'discontinuity' to describe an unexpected pause in something that was previously consistent.
The concert featured an awkward discontinuity when the sound system failed.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Always Negative
'Discontinuity' doesn't always imply something negative; it can simply indicate a change.
The discontinuity in the company's policy allowed for more innovative ideas.
Compare with
breachbreakdisruptiongaphiatalinterruptionlapseseverance
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Video examples
Want interstellar...
the world something that actually transforms us from one generation to a next something we can't go back for it can be a policy a decision think of the kinds of things that are radical leaps they cause discontinuities in the way
Video examples
HIV and flu -- the...
no longer do the poor and vulnerable need to be threatened by infectious diseases or indeed anybody instead of having vacuous meals massively fatal discontinuity of life we can ensure the continuity of life what the world needs
Video examples
What it takes to be a...
The answer to this question is on your calendar. Who are you spending time with? On what topics? Where are you traveling? What are you reading? And then how are you distilling this into understanding potential discontinuities,
Video examples
Want interstellar...
the world something that actually transforms us from one generation to a next something we can't go back for it can be a policy a decision think of the kinds of things that are radical leaps they cause discontinuities in the way
Video examples
HIV and flu -- the...
no longer do the poor and vulnerable need to be threatened by infectious diseases or indeed anybody instead of having vacuous meals massively fatal discontinuity of life we can ensure the continuity of life what the world needs
Video examples
What it takes to be a...
The answer to this question is on your calendar. Who are you spending time with? On what topics? Where are you traveling? What are you reading? And then how are you distilling this into understanding potential discontinuities,
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Blythe Masters
American Businesswoman
In bypassing barriers between different classes, maturities, rating categories, debt seniority levels and so on, credit derivatives are creating enormous opportunities to exploit and profit from associated discontinuities in the pricing of credit risk.
Quote examples
Janet Malcolm
American Writer
Biographies never feel as real as the best fiction. There is such a discontinuity between the narrative and the material it comes from, which is always such a mixed bag of letters, recollections, and other data.
Quote examples
Gregory Bateson
British Scientist
Numbers are the product of counting. Quantities are the product of measurement. This means that numbers can conceivably be accurate because there is a discontinuity between each integer and the next.
Quote examples
Paul Hirsch
German Politician
The sound is the key; audiences will accept visual discontinuity much more easily than they'll accept jumps in the sound. If the track makes sense, you can do almost anything visually.
Quote examples
Michael Hayden
American Public Servant
It's good to remind intelligence producers and consumers alike about the need to 'warn of emerging conditions, trends, threats and opportunities' and the potential for discontinuities.
Quote examples
Ernest Lawrence
American Scientist
Certainly, it may bring to light such a deeper knowledge of the structure of matter as to constitute a veritable discontinuity in the progress of science.
Quote examples
Lenny Abrahamson
Irish Director
I'm interested in discontinuities and interruptions, people having to rewrite the narrative of their lives because of sudden changes.
Quote examples
Zbigniew Brzezinski
American Politician
The future is inherently full of discontinuities, and lessons of the past must be applied with enormous caution.
Quote examples
Nolan Bushnell
American Businessman
I try to get a vision of the future, and then I try to figure out where the discontinuities are.
Quote examples
Mary Catherine Bateson
American Scientist
Fluidity and discontinuity are central to the reality in which we live.
Quote examples
Blythe Masters
American Businesswoman
In bypassing barriers between different classes, maturities, rating categories, debt seniority levels and so on, credit derivatives are creating enormous opportunities to exploit and profit from associated discontinuities in the pricing of credit risk.
Quote examples
Janet Malcolm
American Writer
Biographies never feel as real as the best fiction. There is such a discontinuity between the narrative and the material it comes from, which is always such a mixed bag of letters, recollections, and other data.
Quote examples
Gregory Bateson
British Scientist
Numbers are the product of counting. Quantities are the product of measurement. This means that numbers can conceivably be accurate because there is a discontinuity between each integer and the next.
Quote examples
Paul Hirsch
German Politician
The sound is the key; audiences will accept visual discontinuity much more easily than they'll accept jumps in the sound. If the track makes sense, you can do almost anything visually.
Quote examples
Michael Hayden
American Public Servant
It's good to remind intelligence producers and consumers alike about the need to 'warn of emerging conditions, trends, threats and opportunities' and the potential for discontinuities.
Quote examples
Ernest Lawrence
American Scientist
Certainly, it may bring to light such a deeper knowledge of the structure of matter as to constitute a veritable discontinuity in the progress of science.
Quote examples
Lenny Abrahamson
Irish Director
I'm interested in discontinuities and interruptions, people having to rewrite the narrative of their lives because of sudden changes.
Quote examples
Zbigniew Brzezinski
American Politician
The future is inherently full of discontinuities, and lessons of the past must be applied with enormous caution.
Quote examples
Nolan Bushnell
American Businessman
I try to get a vision of the future, and then I try to figure out where the discontinuities are.
Quote examples
Mary Catherine Bateson
American Scientist
Fluidity and discontinuity are central to the reality in which we live.
Example 1 of 10
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