adjective

Etymology: L exponens, prp. of exponere: see expound

noun

1. a person who sets forth, expounds, or promotes principles, methods, etc.
2. a person or thing that is an example or symbol (of something); representative
3. Algebra a small figure or symbol placed above and at the right of another figure or symbol to show how many times the latter is to be used as a factor (Ex.: b = b × b × b): zero, negative, and fractional exponents have special rules (Ex.: a = 1, a = 1/a, a = )