'Indefinite inflorescence' definitions:

Definition of 'Indefinite inflorescence'

From: GCIDE
  • Indefinite \In*def"i*nite\, a. [L. indefinitus. See In- not, and Definite.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, "the chymists say this," or "the chymists affirm that." --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
  • The time of this last is left indefinite. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as, indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line. [1913 Webster]
  • Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite; though it is not boundless in itself, it may be so to human comprehension. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Boundless; infinite. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • Indefinite and omnipresent God, Inhabiting eternity. --W. Thompson (1745). [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Bot.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. [1913 Webster]
  • Indefinite article (Gram.), the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class.
  • Indefinite inflorescence. (Bot.) See {Indeterminate inflorescence}, under Indeterminate.
  • Indefinite proposition (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal.
  • Indefinite term (Logic), a negative term; as, the not-good.
  • Syn: Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'indefinite inflorescence'

From: GCIDE
  • Indeterminate \In`de*ter"mi*nate\, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. --Paley. [1913 Webster]
  • Indeterminate analysis (Math.), that branch of analysis which has for its object the solution of indeterminate problems.
  • Indeterminate coefficients (Math.), coefficients arbitrarily assumed for convenience of calculation, or to facilitate some artifice of analysis. Their values are subsequently determined.
  • Indeterminate equation (Math.), an equation in which the unknown quantities admit of an infinite number of values, or sets of values. A group of equations is indeterminate when it contains more unknown quantities than there are equations.
  • Indeterminate inflorescence (Bot.), a mode of inflorescence in which the flowers all arise from axillary buds, the terminal bud going on to grow and sometimes continuing the stem indefinitely; -- called also {acropetal inflorescence}, botryose inflorescence, {centripetal inflorescence}, and indefinite inflorescence. --Gray.
  • Indeterminate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of an infinite number of solutions, or one in which there are fewer imposed conditions than there are unknown or required results.
  • Indeterminate quantity (Math.), a quantity which has no fixed value, but which may be varied in accordance with any proposed condition.
  • Indeterminate series (Math.), a series whose terms proceed by the powers of an indeterminate quantity, sometimes also with indeterminate exponents, or indeterminate coefficients. -- {In`de*ter"mi*nate*ly} adv. -- {In`de*ter"mi*nate*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]