Infinite

[in-fuh-nit] /ˈɪn fə nɪt/

adjective
1.
immeasurably great:
an infinite capacity for forgiveness.
2.
indefinitely or exceedingly great:
infinite sums of money.
3.
unlimited or unmeasurable in extent of space, duration of time, etc.:
the infinite nature of outer space.
4.
unbounded or unlimited; boundless; endless:
God’s infinite mercy.
5.
Mathematics.

noun
6.
something that is infinite.
7.
Mathematics. an infinite quantity or magnitude.
8.
the boundless regions of space.
9.
the Infinite (Being) God.
/ˈɪnfɪnɪt/
adjective
1.

2.
extremely or immeasurably great or numerous: infinite wealth
3.
all-embracing, absolute, or total: God’s infinite wisdom
4.
(maths)

adj.

late 14c., “eternal, limitless,” also “extremely great in number,” from Old French infinit “endless, boundless,” and directly from Latin infinitus “unbounded, unlimited,” from in- “not, opposite of” (see in- (1)) + finitus “defining, definite,” from finis “end” (see finish). The noun meaning “that which is infinite” is from 1580s.
infinite
(ĭn’fə-nĭt)

mathematics
1. Bigger than any natural number. There are various formal set definitions in set theory: a set X is infinite if
(i) There is a bijection between X and a proper subset of X.
(ii) There is an injection from the set N of natural numbers to X.
(iii) There is an injection from each natural number n to X.
These definitions are not necessarily equivalent unless we accept the Axiom of Choice.
2. The length of a line extended indefinitely.
See also infinite loop, infinite set.
[Jargon File]
(1995-03-29)