discrete

dis·crete

adj \dis-ˈkrēt, ˈdis-ˌ\

Definition of DISCRETE

1

: constituting a separate entity : individually distinct <several discrete sections>

2

a : consisting of distinct or unconnected elements : noncontinuous b : taking on or having a finite or countably infinite number of values <discrete probabilities> <a discrete random variable>

— dis·crete·ly adverb

— dis·crete·ness noun

Examples of DISCRETE

1. <several discrete sections to this vast medical complex, including a college of pharmacology and a research center>
2. The idea is to disconnect the memory from the reactions to the memory, so that although the memory of the traumatic event remains, the everyday things that can trigger fear and panic, such as trash blowing across the interstate or a car backfiring … are restored to insignificance. The trauma thus becomes a discrete event, not a constant, self-replicating, encompassing condition. —Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 19 May 2008
3. Eliminating stress entirely is not an option. If there are discrete sources of stress in your life—a relationship, a job, a health problem—you can and should take action to try to mitigate them. But my experience is that we all are subject to a kind of conservation law of stress. If stress recedes in one area, it seems to increase in another. —Time, 17 Oct. 2005
4. The newer, digital phones broadcast their communications in discrete bursts of energy, whereas analog devices employ continuous signals. —Janet Raloff, Science News, 12 Feb. 2000

Origin of DISCRETE

Middle English, from Latin discretus (see discreet)

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DISCRETE

Synonyms: detached, disconnected, separate, free, freestanding, single, unattached, unconnected

Antonyms: attached, connected, joined, linked

Related Words: independent, self-contained; individual, private

Near Antonyms: adjoining

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See Synonym Discussion at distinct

Rhymes with DISCRETE

accrete, aesthete, afreet, athlete, backbeat, backseat, backstreet, bedsheet, bench seat, big beat, bolete, box pleat, box seat, break beat, broadsheet, browbeat, buckwheat, bystreet, call sheet, car seat, cheat sheet, clipsheet, cloud street, cold feet, compete, compleat, complete, conceit, concrete, crabmeat, crib sheet, deadbeat, dead heat, dead meat, deceit, defeat, delete, deplete, discreet, disseat, downbeat, drop seat, drumbeat, dutch treat, effete, elite, en suite, entreat, escheat, excrete, facete, Fleet Street, fly sheet, forcemeat, foresheet, four-peat, gamete, groundsheet, hard wheat, heartbeat, heat-treat, helpmeet, hoofbeat, hot seat, house seat, ice sheet, ill-treat, jump seat, kick pleat, love seat, mainsheet, Main Street, maltreat, mesquite, mincemeat, mistreat, offbeat, Ossete, petite, pink sheet, preheat, rap sheet, receipt, recheat, red heat, red meat, red wheat, regreet, repeat, replete, retreat, scratch sheet, secrete, side street, slip-sheet, soft wheat, spreadsheet, stand treat, swap meet, sweetmeat, tear sheet, terete, three-peat, through street, time sheet, unmeet, unseat, upbeat, vegete, volkslied, white heat