fractal

noun frac·tal \ ˈfrak-tᵊl \

Updated on: 10 May 2018

Definition of fractal

: any of various extremely irregular curves or shapes for which any suitably chosen part is similar in shape to a given larger or smaller part when magnified or reduced to the same size

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fractal

adjective

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Recent Examples of fractal from the Web

The speaker is Marcia Stein, who will share her experiences and designs using Adobe Photoshop Elements, Frax HD (a fractal app for the iPad) and Electric Quilt along with inkjet printing on fabric.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Local woman elected as state DAR leaders," 7 May 2018
The trippy video holds nothing back, featuring disembodied hands, Sistine-looking angels and ever-developing fractals.

— morgan enos, Billboard, "BØRNS Unveils Psychedelic Video For Electro-Pop Jam 'We Don't Care': Premiere," 13 Apr. 2018
Enlightenment is a distant shore for me but these moments are undeniably fractals of a larger mosaic.

— elizabeth greenwood, Longreads, "The Month of Giving Dangerously," 31 Jan. 2018
Over the course of his career, his use of fractal patterns increased, and seeking out these spirals has even been used to root out fake paintings.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Scientists Spot Cognitive Decline in Famous Artists’ Brushstrokes," 2 Jan. 2017
Other examples of nature’s fractals include clouds, rivers, coastlines and mountains.

— richard taylor, Smithsonian, "Fractal Patterns in Nature and Art Are Aesthetically Pleasing and Stress-Reducing," 31 Mar. 2017
History exists in a million fractal ways in a million different places and according to a million different subjective experiences.

— josephine livingstone, New Republic, "Do University History Departments Have a Race Problem?," 25 Oct. 2017
There are fractal design elements, which its maker claims are not just a visual gimmick but actually enhance the structural integrity of the Isabella concept.

— jens meiners, Car and Driver, "Borgward Isabella Concept Aims to Revive a Reputation for Beauty," 19 Sep. 2017
Stories spiral out of stories in Meloy’s fiction, like fractals endlessly elaborating to fill all the available space.

— laura miller, Slate Magazine, "A Novel Wrapped in a Mystery," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fractal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

This term was coined in 1975 to describe shapes that seem to exist at both the small-scale and large-scale levels in the same natural object. Fractals can be seen in snowflakes, in which the microscopic crystals that make up a flake look much like the flake itself. They can also be seen in tree bark and in broccoli buds. Coastlines often represent fractals as well, being highly uneven at both a large scale and a very small scale. Fractal geometry has been important in many fields, including astronomy, physical chemistry, and fluid mechanics. And even some artists are benefiting, creating beautiful and interesting abstract designs by means of fractals.

Origin and Etymology of fractal

borrowed from French fractal (adjective), fractale (noun), from Latin frāctus (past participle of frangere "to break, shatter") + French -al ¹-al, -ale ²-al — more at ¹break

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1975

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year