topological

adjective to·po·log·i·cal \ ˌtä-pə-ˈlä-ji-kəl \

|Updated on: 3 Jun 2018

Definition of topological

1 : of or relating to topology

2 : being or involving properties unaltered under a homeomorphism

continuity and connectedness are topological properties

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topologically

play \ˌtä-pə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of topological from the Web

The research marks the first release of data from PolarGAP, which aims to fill in topological information about the area around the South Pole.

— david freeman /, NBC News, "Vast hidden canyons and mountain ranges discovered in Antarctica," 26 May 2018
That property makes topological qubits attractive for quantum computers.

— neil savage, Scientific American, "What Are the Limits of Manipulating Nature?," 8 May 2018
Physicists have also observed topological protection in electromagnetic waves.

— davide castelvecchi, Scientific American, "Physicists Harness Twisted Mathematics to Make Powerful Laser," 5 Feb. 2018
Microsoft's quantum computing efforts are built around a concept called a topological qubit.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Microsoft brings its quantum dev kit to macOS, Linux; new kind of qubit this year," 26 Feb. 2018
These singularities are mathematical holes and also arise in topological insulators.

— george musser, Science | AAAS, "Waves that drive global weather patterns finally explained, thanks to inspiration from bagel-shaped quantum matter," 5 Oct. 2017
The number of extra qubits varies according both to the algorithm and the kind of quantum machine being used; in principle, topological qubits will need far fewer error correcting qubits than other quantum computer designs.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Microsoft makes play for next wave of computing with quantum computing toolkit," 25 Sep. 2017
The molecules are the atomic equivalent of the Borromean rings, a topological curiosity in which three rings intertwine so that removing any one ring causes the other two to fall apart.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Coolest science ever headed to the space station," 7 Sep. 2017
The topological approach reduces the problem to the barest facts, Marston says: Earth is rotating and has an equator where the Coriolis force switches direction.

— george musser, Science | AAAS, "Waves that drive global weather patterns finally explained, thanks to inspiration from bagel-shaped quantum matter," 5 Oct. 2017

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

First Known Use of topological

1715

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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topological

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topologically

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