Infinity - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Infinity : (noun)

1: time without end [syn: eternity]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Infinity : \In*fin"i*ty\, n.; pl. Infinities. [L. infinitas; pref. in- not _ finis boundary, limit, end: cf. F. infinit['e]. See Finite.] 1. Unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity; eternity; boundlessness; immensity. --Sir T. More.

There can not be more infinities than one; for one of them would limit the other. --Sir W. Raleigh.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Infinity :

1. The size of something infinite.

Using the word in the context of sets is sloppy, since different infinite sets aren't necessarily the same size cardinality as each other.

See also aleph 0

2. The largest value that can be represented in a particular type of variable ({register, memory location, data type, whatever).

See also minus infinity.

[{Jargon File]

(1994-11-18)

Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:

Infinity : n. 1. The largest value that can be represented in a particular type of variable (register, memory location, data type, whatever). 2. `minus infinity': The smallest such value, not necessarily or even usually the simple negation of plus infinity. In N-bit twos-complement arithmetic, infinity is 2^(N-1) - 1 but minus infinity is - (2^(N-1)), not -(2^(N-1) - 1). Note also that this is different from "time T equals minus infinity", which is closer to a mathematician's usage of infinity.

Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]: