abscissa

The definition of an abscissa is the horizontal coordinate on a geometric plane.

(noun)

An example of an abscissa is the measurement along the y-axis parallel with the x-axis to point p.

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See abscissa in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. abscissas or abscissae

Math. the horizontal Cartesian coordinate on a plane, measured from the y-axis along a line parallel with the x-axis to point P

Origin: L abscissa (linea), (a line) cut off, fem. of abscissus, pp. of abscindere, to cut off < ab-, from, off + scindere, to cut < IE *skei-: for base see saw

See abscissa in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun Symbol x2 pl. ab·scis·sas or ab·scis·sae (-sĭsˈē)
The coordinate representing the position of a point along a line perpendicular to the y-axis in a plane Cartesian coordinate system.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin (līnea) abscissa, (line) cut off

Origin: , from Latin abscissa

Origin: , feminine of abscissus, past participle of abscindere, to abscise; see abscise

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abscissa

The coordinates for A are (4,3); the abscissa is 4.

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