Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Asymptote"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Asymptote \As"ymp*tote\ (?; 215), n. [Gr. ? not falling
together; 'a priv. + ? to fall together; ? with + ? to fall.
Cf. {Symptom}.] (Math.)
A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable
distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet
it. Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear
asymptote may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an
infinite distance.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
asymptote
n : a straight line that is the limiting value of a curve; can
be considered as tangent at infinity; "the asymptote of
the curve"
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