discontinuity

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌdɪskɑntəˈnuəti/ UK /ˌdɪskɒntɪˈnjuːɪti/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a break, gap, or lack of continuity in something

Geologists found a sharp discontinuity between the two rock layers.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a break, gap, or lack of... break gap interruption disruption disconnection hiatus rupture

Opposites

continuity continuance cohesion uninterruptedness

Word family

Related forms discontinue discontinuous continuity continuous

Etymology

From dis- ('not') plus continuity, from Latin continuitas, from continuus ('uninterrupted'), from continere ('to hold together'), from com- plus tenere ('to hold').

dis- Latin continuus Latin tenere Latin *ten- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# discontinuity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌdɪskɑntəˈnuəti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌdɪskɒntɪˈnjuːɪti/

## Meanings
1. a break, gap, or lack of continuity in something

## Examples
- Geologists found a sharp discontinuity between the two rock layers.

## Synonyms
- break
- gap
- interruption
- disruption
- disconnection
- hiatus
- rupture

## Antonyms
- continuity
- continuance
- cohesion
- uninterruptedness

## Related Forms
- discontinue
- discontinuous
- continuity
- continuous

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: dis-
- Root: continuus
- Root: tenere
- Root: *ten-

## Etymology
From dis- ('not') plus continuity, from Latin continuitas, from continuus ('uninterrupted'), from continere ('to hold together'), from com- plus tenere ('to hold').

## AI Etymology
Discontinuity comes from dis- ('not') plus continuity, from Latin continuitas, from continuus ('uninterrupted'), from continere ('to hold together'), from com- plus tenere ('to hold'). The etymological trail includes Latin dis-, Latin continuus, Latin tenere, and Proto-Indo-European *ten-. As a noun, discontinuity names a break, gap, or lack of continuity in something. The same family is visible in related forms such as discontinue, discontinuous, continuity, and continuous.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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