graph

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈgraf 

1

: a diagram (such as a series of one or more points, lines, line segments, curves, or areas) that represents the variation of a variable in comparison with that of one or more other variables

2

: the collection of all points whose coordinates satisfy a given relation (such as a function)

3

: a collection of vertices and edges that join pairs of vertices

graph

2 of 4

verb

graphed; graphing; graphs

transitive verb

1

: to represent by a graph

2

: to plot on a graph

graph

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a written or printed representation of a basic unit of speech (such as a phoneme or syllable)

especially : grapheme sense 1

2

: a single occurrence of a letter of an alphabet in any of its various shapes

-graph

4 of 4

noun combining form

1

: something written or drawn

monograph

2

[French -graphe, from Late Latin -graphus] : instrument for making or transmitting records or images

chronograph

Examples of graph in a Sentence

Verb

Students were asked to graph each equation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Pay particular attention to external reviews about a brand, including Google’s knowledge graph about brands and authors, additional relevance of social presence, and the diminishing importance of low-authority, low-relevance links. —David Einstein, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

The red line in the graph above shows the evolution of Earth's average surface air temperature for the year so far. —Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024

Hover over a point on the graph to see the median monthly rent for a unit in each location. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 29 Feb. 2024

Conversely, during the 1970s (not shown on graph), stagflation was rampant as consumer prices rose and the economy struggled. —Mike Patton, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Imagine creating tiny circles around each point on the graph. —Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024

My colleague, Marquette Lubar Center researcher John Johnson, put together a graph recently that shows the close relationship between the number of children born in Milwaukee and the number of first-graders in all Milwaukee schools six years later. —Alan J. Borsuk, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024

Seconds after weighing your baby, the app provides detailed information about their weight, including a comparison to national averages and a longitudinal graph displayed over a day, week, month, or all time. —Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024

And its colorful graphs are more shareable than Goodreads’ annual snapshots. —Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2024

Verb

The reading passages are much shorter, and an online graphing calculator is built into the application for the math section, which some see as a way to level the playing field for low-income students. —Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024

This equation defines a curve that can be graphed on the plane, as shown below. —Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024

The reading passages will be much shorter, and test-takers will now be able to use an online graphing calculator for the entire math section of the exam. —Dana Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024

Indianapolis crime:Suspect in Target theft had graphing calculators in his car. —Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Feb. 2024

Which, for the purpose of a connectome, means each connection must somehow be isolated, recognized, and graphed. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2024

For example, one recent paper on high-temperature superconductivity was pulled because the researcher couldn't explain the mathematical transformations that were performed on data before it being graphed—the graph itself only appeared once in the paper. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024

For the three groupings, the NAR graphs the market shares for purchases of primary residences starting in 2013. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2023

Statistics specializes in applying objective quantitative measures to understand data, but there is no substitute for actually graphing it out and getting a look at its shape and structure with one’s own eyeballs. —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for graphic formula

Noun (2)

probably from -graph

Noun combining form

Latin -graphum, from Greek -graphon, from neuter of -graphos written, from graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing graph

• bar graph
• circle graph
• graph paper
• line graph
• graph theory

Kids Definition

graph

1 of 3 noun

ˈgraf 

1

: the collection of all the points whose coordinates are a solution to an equation

the graph of y = x²

2

: a diagram that shows (as by dots or lines) the change in one variable in comparison with that of one or more other variables

a graph of population growth

graph

2 of 3 verb

: to represent by or plot on a graph

graph each equation

-graph

3 of 3 noun combining form

ˌgraf

: something written or drawn

homograph

Etymology

Noun combining form

derived from Greek -graphon "something written," from -graphos "written," from graphein "to write" — related to graffito, -gram

Medical Definition

graph

1 of 2 noun

ˈgraf 

: a diagram (as a series of one or more points, lines, line segments, curves, or areas) that represents the variation of a variable in comparison with that of one or more other variables

graphic

ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

graph

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to represent by a graph

2

: to plot on a graph