topology

noun

to·​pol·​o·​gy tə-ˈpä-lə-jē How to pronounce topology (audio)
tä-
plural topologies
1
: topographic study of a particular place
specifically : the history of a region as indicated by its topography
2
a(1)
: a branch of mathematics concerned with those properties of geometric configurations (such as point sets) which are unaltered by elastic deformations (such as a stretching or a twisting) that are homeomorphisms
(2)
: the set of all open subsets of a topological space
b
: configuration
topology of a molecule
topology of a magnetic field
topologist noun

Examples of topology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The network team reviews network topology and addresses overlooked areas like website security (HTTPS) and online reputation. Ben Gebremeskel, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024 Just in the past year, however, a topology of Chinese bookstores, literary salons, and lecture spaces has arrived in Tokyo. Chang Che, The New Yorker, 30 July 2024 For the nearly five years of his imprisonment, Leray kept up this subterfuge by carrying out research in topology, a branch of mathematics that studies deformable shapes. Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 19 July 2024 And then the topology is good for studying rates of convergence and that sort of thing. Quanta Magazine, 3 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for topology 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'topology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of topology was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near topology

Cite this Entry

“Topology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topology. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

topology

noun
to·​pol·​o·​gy tə-ˈpäl-ə-jē How to pronounce topology (audio)
: a branch of mathematics concerned with the properties of geometric figures that do not change when the figure is twisted or stretched in certain ways
topological
ˌtäp-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl
ˌtōp-
adjective
topologist noun

Medical Definition

topology

noun
to·​pol·​o·​gy tə-ˈpäl-ə-jē, tä- How to pronounce topology (audio)
plural topologies
1
2
: configuration sense 1
the topology of a molecule
topological adjective
also topologic

More from Merriam-Webster on topology

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