graph
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A data chart intended to illustrate the relationship between a set of numbers and a reference set.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
grafIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɡɹæf
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
applied mathematicsstatistics
A data chart (graphical representation of data) intended to illustrate the relationship between a set (or sets) of numbers (quantities, measurements or indicative numbers) and a reference set, whose elements are indexed to those of the former set(s) and may or may not be numbers.
mathematics
A set of points constituting a graphical representation of a real function; (formally) a set of tuples (x_1,x_2,…,x_m,y)∈ R ᵐ⁺¹, where y=f(x_1,x_2,…,x_m) for a given function f: R ᵐ→ R. See also Graph of a function on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
mathematics
A visual representation of the relations between certain quantities, represented as points, plotted with reference to a set of axes
graph theory
A set of vertices (or nodes) connected together by edges; (formally) an ordered pair of sets (V,E), where the elements of V are called vertices or nodes and E is a set of pairs (called edges) of elements of V. See also Graph (discrete mathematics) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
verb
transitive
To draw a graph, to record graphically.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (applied mathematics, statistics) A data chart (graphical representation of data) intended to illustrate the relationship between a set (or sets) of numbers (quantities, measurements or indicative numbers) and a reference set, whose elements are indexed to those of the former set(s) and may or may not be numbers.
Used this way, graph is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a mathematical use: it is defined precisely and belongs to working with figures and calculations rather than to ordinary conversation.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Mathematics
- Geometry
- Academic writing
- Education/classroom
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use graph
- “The teacher showed a colorful graph displaying the survey results.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Word family
Words built from the same root.
Related to of or relating to the graphic arts.
Related to A data chart (graphical representation of data) intended to illustrate the relationship between a set (or sets) of numbers (quantities, measurements or indicative numbers) and a…
In a diagrammatic manner.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Paper that has lines to permit drawing graphs.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.