dis|crete

dis|crete «dihs KREET», adjective, noun.

–adj.

1. distinct from others; separate; individual: »

An apple and a stone are discrete objects.

2. consisting of distinct or individual parts; discontinuous: »

Wages paid to employees, the population of a community, the birth rate, and the like, furnish discrete series of data (Emory S. Bogardus).

–n.

a separate part or piece of equipment, often a component part of a large system, such as a high-fidelity system: »

Most manufacturers of discretes are—to quote an industry marketing manager—“up to our ears in transistors” (New Scientist and Science Journal).

╂[< Latin discrētus separated, past participle of discernere; see etym. under discern (Cf. ↑discern). See etym. of doublet discreet. (Cf. ↑discreet)]

–dis|crete´ly, adverb.

–dis|crete´ness, noun.

Usage See discreet for usage note. (Cf. ↑discreet)