SURD

a. n.

6 definitions — Webster’s Dictionary (1828)


1.
a.

Net having the sense of hearing; deaf. [Obs.] "A surd . . . generation." Sir T. Browne.

2.
a.

Unheard. [Obs.] Kenrick.

3.
a.

Involving surds; not capable of being expressed in rational numbers; radical; irrational; as, a surd expression or quantity; a surd number.

4.
a.

Uttered, as an element of speech, without tone, or proper vocal sound; voiceless; unintonated; nonvocal; atonic; whispered; aspirated; sharp; hard, as f, p, s, etc.; -- opposed to sonant. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§169, 179, 180.

5.
n.

A quantity which can not be expressed by rational numbers; thus, *2 is a surd.

6.
n.

A surd element of speech. See Surd, a., 4.


← SURCULOSE S — all words SURDAL →